This message is to Chris, who is searching his gg-father John W. Robinson; Jane Walsh, who has already dove in and tried to help; and to anybody else who is just curious................... My search of Ancestry on-line came up with a different result than Jane's. I have an explanation for only one small part of the difference....and no explanation at all for the conflicts with Chris' original info. Nonetheless, here is what I found: First, I focused on John's father instead of John, since father Richard would be the only possible name to be found in 1840. I found TWO Richard Robinsons in Harrison County in the 1840 Census. The first one (Page 67 of the census) is listed as between 30 & 40 years old. Wife (probably) is in the same age category. With an actual birth year of 1812 (approx.) this Richard is consistent with the one being sought. This family (in 1840) had 2 male children under 5 and two between 5 and 10. They had 2 female children under 5, one between 5 and 10, and one between 10 and 15. Of course, if this is the CORRECT Richard Robinson.....AND the birth year for John is accurate, NONE of these children would be John. A second Richard Robinson is found on page 88 of the census. This Richard is significant different in age from the sought Richard. This family's head is between 40 and 50 with the wife (probable) listed as 30 to 40. This family recorded one male child between 5 and 10....one female child under 5......one female between 10 and 15.....and three females between 15 and 20. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shifting to the 1850 census, I also found two Richard Robinson's in Harrison County. There is NOT an absolutely clear relationship between the families counted in 1840 and the two counted in 1850. Conversely, it is difficult to rule out a direct relationship. The two Richard's are listed as 49 and 50 and the two wives are both 45 in 1850 -- all which can be accurate (or very close) when comparing to 1840. One Richard, with wife named Sarah had four children in the house in 1850. None were name John. One male child was an unreadable name, but for SURE it WAS NOT John and this son would have been born in 1835. The second Richard -- and this is another place I differ from Jane -- did in fact have a son name John. However, this John was 1 year old in the 1850 census. For this family to be correct, Chris's birth year for gg-grandfather John has to be inaccurate. Jane, I believe the explanation of our different results is that nine children of this Richard are listed on the next page of the census....John is the LAST listed. Also the wife is listed as Eda which does not fit with the understood wife Nancy......but Eda could be a middle or "nick" name. Also....NO sister named Theopolis. To complete this "report" other children listed with Richard (50) and Eda (45) include: Asa (male) --- 20 Tabitha (female) --- 20 Daniel (male) --- ??? Allison (male) --- 16 ???? (male) --- 14 Elizabeth (female) 13 Jus???? (male) --- 10 Levi (male) --- 8 Lean ??? (male) -- 6 Harriet (female) -- 4 Joshua (male) -- 2 John (male) -- 1 I hope this has been some measure of help, but I fear that it has only confused the issue for you! Lee Roland Jenkins ORIGINAL MESSAGE and JANE'S RESPONSE FOLLOW: ******************************************************************************* Does anyone have access to Harrison County, VA census records or a free onlinre source to look these up? I have the Civl War military record of my gg-father, John W. Robinson, stating that he was born in Harrison County, VA in 1843 (I believe it was January, but I would have to double check the exact date.)  His father was Richard J. Robinson, born VA abt 1812, mother was Nancy Hook (Robinson).  I have his parents buried in Noble County, Ohio, where the family moved abt. 1854.  John W. had a sister, Theopolis, b. abt. 1841, also in VA.  Richard's father is reported as John T.(Thomas?) Robinson, b. VA abt. 1780.  Brothers to Richard J. (sons of John T.) may have been William, Samuel, and Joseph L. (Lewis?), with sister, Beverly W. Robinson. I would like to find this family in Harrison and would greatly appreciate a look up in the 1850 or 1840 census or a referal to a free online source for this info.  Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Chris ********************************************************************* Hi, Chris, Found two Richard Robinsons in 1850 Harrison Co. but neither with a wife named Nancy nor dau. Theopolis and son John. Tried all Richard Robinsons in the index for VA in 1850.  No one matches.  Then tried all in Ohio.  None matched.  Tried a few in western PA.  Did find a Richard J. Robinson in HAMPSHIRE County in 1840, but there are no other members of the household listed for that year's census so cannot tell if this is the right one or not.  However, that would be an easy mistake to have made if your John moved away from the State when he was 10 or 11 years of age.  There were no Richard Robinsons listed for Hampshire County in 1850. Wish I'd found more! Regards, Jane ****************************************************************************** *********