Helen: Those are early dates so hard to find a lot of info. Looked at the 1817 census and quite sure I found them as there were only 2 Robert McDonald's in th county and this fellow (from the names of neighbors etc) is on Barney's River Robert McDonald 0 males over 50- 1; Men 16-50; 3 boys; 1 woman (usually the wife if alive); 1 girl for a family total of 6. Girls appear to be any unmarried daughter that's still at home. Hope this is new info. Looked at the 1838 census and don't see a Joseph McDonald in the county?? Since Joseph's mother died in 1796 and there is a women with Robert in the 1817 census possibly Robert married again and the family could be one of the three Mrs. McDonald widow in Maxwelton Twp. Unless you happen to know anything about the family ca 1838 will be hard to pick the right family if Joseph was still living with a stepmother. Good luck. Bill in Montana