This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Wadford-Watford-Hubbard-Hammock Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Rd.2ADE/665 Message Board Post: I am researching my g-grandfather, William Henry Whadford, 1860’s-1939. His original surname/family connection may be Wadford, Watford, Wafford, Wofford, Wolford, Walford, Woodford, Whitford, Halford, Alford or a close variation from Marion County with Alabama connections. William Henry Whadford was supposedly born September 15, 1862(?) in Alabama(?) approximately during the Civil War years (different years on different censuses 1900-1930) and the tale told is that his family may have originally come from the Carolinas and/or Georgia to perhaps Newton, Dale County, Alabama, where he may have been born. He was orphaned at a young age when his family may have died in a "plague" possibly on a river(house)boat and the story has it he was discovered alone after a couple of days. What happened to him next is unknown, as he may have been sent to an orphanage or home, but at some point, he was claimed by a supposed “uncle” where he may have been an indentured servant on a farm. This may have been in Alabama or Florida, but ran away with supposed “cousins” when he was a young boy and they ended in Texas. The family is able to trace him from his first marriage to Mary E. Havens on October 25, 1885 in Rains County, Te! xas. There is an 1870 census of Shelby County, Hillsboro, P.O., Alabama, page 423 that lists a Willie Wadford, but I cannot find any further information: Hubbard, James D. age 24, M, W, Farmer b. Alabama. Mollie, age 20, F, W, Keeping house, b. Alabama. Walter R. or B., age 1 , M, W, At Home, b. Alabama. Wadford, ? (Annie, (N)Annie, Ammie short for Amelia?), age 25, F, W, At Home, b. Alabama. Wadford, Willie, age 4, M, W, At Home, b. Alabama. There is also an 1880 census of Butler County, Oaky Streak, Alabama, page 496 that lists a William Wadferd and I cannot find any further information on this family/listing either: Hammock, George, age 49, M, W, Farmer, b. Alabama. Sarah, age 49, F, W, Wife, b. Alabama. Elizabeth, age 18, F, W, Daughter, b. Alabama. Wadferd, William, age 24, M, W, Laborer, b. Alabama. If you have any information or search suggestions, please contact me at NLCOMPTON@RMCI.NET.