This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: COPELAND/HOWELL Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/ikJ.2ACIB/1148 Message Board Post: Alexander Copeland, b 1846 and his wife Virginia Howell Copeland aka "Jennie" are listed on the 1870 Gates County, NC census as free persons of color. Their children were Mary, Martha Jane, James, William Dempsey, Claude, John, Brodley, and William W. Copeland. After Virginia died, Alexander married Nellie Hall of Hertford Co, NC. Their children were Leroy, Odis, Walter, Charles Hinton, Linton, and Flossie Copeland. There may be some connection between this family and two earlier free Copelands in Gates County: Ben Copeland listed on the 1840 census and Sam Copeland listed on the 1830 census. Interested in exchanging info with any descendants and hoping someone may have more info on Ben and Sam Copeland.