HATCHER website: http://hatcherfamilyassn.com HALL DNA project: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hall/HDNAtest.htm "One of the tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a brutal gang of facts" - La Rochefoucauld Julia, Yes, I'm referring to 1857 OH. In colonial days, the law allowed the use of the father's name only if the father admitted paternity. I just don't know how long that law existed. Nel