Darrell, Thank you for your kind comments. That possible explanation for the "move" eastward during childbearing definitely makes sense. Now, onto proving a connection between George and Mary and finding the father -- or finding his real parents! Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darrell A. Martin" <darrellm@sprynet.com> To: <GARDNER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 8:21 AM Subject: Re: [GARDNER] George GARDNER/GARDINER > >The very next listing after George's family on that census page was for the > >household of Mary GARDINER, age 48, born Va--Family #1236. In Mary's > >household were William GARDINER, age 18, born Oh; Alexander GARDINER, age > >16, born Oh; Margarite, age 14, born Oh; Jonathan, age 12, born Pa; > >Cornelius GARDINER, age 9, born Pa; and Lucinda GARDINER, age 7, born Pa; > >BUT no husband--deceased? Is George related to Mary GARDINER? > [snip] > > > I think you are most likely on the right track, although you > do not yet have proof. Since West Virginia did not become a > separate state until after the 1860 census, during the Civil > War, the Mary who is head of family #1236 may have been born > in the area directly between Pennsylvania and Ohio. It would > be a plausible explanation for the unusual (but by no means > unheard of) move *eastward* during her childbearing years. > Perhaps the family didn't go very far at all. > > Darrell > > > Darrell Allen MARTIN > a native Vermonter currently in exile in Addison, Illinois > darrellm@sprynet.com www.darrell-martin.net/genealogy/