This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: HAYS/HAYES/HASE/HAISE/HAYSE,HAZE, HAYZE, HAY**, ETC. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Xih.2ACEB/14.96.164.1.1.1.2 Message Board Post: Karen, In the 1840 Census, TIPPAH CO., MS, p. 201, "DELITHA HAYS," 40-50 yrs. (and presumably widowed) is head of a household with 1boy 10-15; 1 boy 15-20; 2 men 20-30; 2 girls 0-5 and 1 woman 20-30. In November of 1850 "DELILAH HAYS," 53, NC, and her extended family are still in Tippah Co., MS, Division 3, p. 564. In her household are "PARTHENIA HAYS," 12, TN; MARY and ALETHA BALL, 11 & 9 & ELIZABETH VINCENT, 4 - probably grandchildren. Nearby (on p. 563) is her son, "ELIAS HAYS" (Elias B. Hays), 22, TN; "MARTHA," 17, TN (Martha Crutcher) and their daughter "MARY E.," 1, MS. Also nearby (p. 567) is her presumed son "JOHN HAYS," 26, farmer, NC; "FRANCES," 23, AL; "NANCY F.," 6, TN and a "Riley Martin," 18, AL (possibly younger brother of Frances.) Next door (p. 567) is another presumed son, MARTIN HAYS," 21, farmer, NC; "MARGARET R.," 21, TN. These are the only Hays people in Div. 3, Tippah Co., MS. This family probably left Tippah, MS in 1851 or 1852 in time for the birth of Ardena in 1852. It's possible that either John and Frances Hays or Martin and Margaret R. Hays are her parents, but there are problems with both candidates: (1) Also living in Pittsburg, Johnson Co., AR in 1860 is a presumably widowed "John Hays," 39, NC with "Isabelle," 6, AR and Francis," 4, AR. IF this is Delitha's son "John" from the 1850 Census, then he's probably not Ardena's father. (Since she was orphaned by the tornado). (2) Martin disappears in 1860 and is probably dead, but his wife, Margaret R., of 1850 is most likely the "Margerat Hays" listed right under Delitha in 1860 - her widowed d-in-law. BUT - if Margaret is a daughter, and not Martin's widow, then - maybe Martin and Margaret R. are her parents. OR - maybe it was another unknown son and you're back to square one! Any other ideas? Barb