In most of the census records I have found under relationship it will note if the child were adopted or a boarder or a child, etc. I've got two kids who were adopted from the 1870s. No matter what age a child is, the adoptive parents can change a child's name to whatever they want. Often if the child is old enough, s/he may have had some input as well. Adoptions are maintained in probate records. It really depends on the location as to what is available... genealogy research is NOT a valid reason to open sealed records. Your best bet would be to check the LDS Family History Library Catalog and search under the county... you will then take a peek under probate... and you want to order the film that would maintain the listing for Holmes and/or Morgan (could be one, or two films)... it should note if there was an official court action. If so, then you want to order the actual film of the probate records according to the record number... you may or may not get any information... On the two that I received, they had a big sticker indicating "CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL" but it will give you an idea of time-frame an adoption was completed (checking the files before and after)... or you may receive an entire file. Also, if you find something in the catalog that indicates Probate Calendar.... you may want to check that out as well. I'm sorry, but I must interject my opinion... Francis would be both a Holmes and a Morgan (I know this is contrary to many in regard to lineage societies), as an adoption worker, I've witnessed many.... the judge always tells the parents "this child becomes yours as though s/he were born to you, including all rights of inheritance." Happy searching! Chris miryag wrote: > The child below highlighted in red as a child of Justine BATES and James Alexander MORGAN was listed with Justine Bates in a census for Randolph County, AR. as Frances HOLMES. I need to find out if he was adopted or if he is actually a HOLMES. If so then I need to find his real parents. I would think the mother would know if the child's last name is correct or not. Only question I have about this is whether or not he is actually a HOLMES or not. By this 1900 census his name would have been Francis Walter HOLMES. Why did his name change to Walter Franklin MORGAN? > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > 1900 Randolph County, Arkansas Census, Wylie Twsp., Holmes > 114/114 MORGAN, Justin 23 F MO > HOLMES, Francis W. 05 M AR > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Descendants of James Alexander "Elick" Morgan > > 1 [1] James Alexander "Elick" Morgan b: May 1843 in Cannon County, Tennessee d: 1905 in Holmes, Wiley Twp., Randolph County, Arkansas > . +Mary ? > > . 2 Thomas Morgan > > *2nd Wife of [1] James Alexander "Elick" Morgan: > . +Nancy J. Collard b: Abt. 1850 in Kentucky d: Aft. 1889 in Holmes, Wylie Twsp., Randolph County, Arkansas > > . 2 [2] Jasper N. Morgan b: November 02, 1869 in Anna, Union County, Illinois d: September 16, 1908 in Holmes, Wylie Twsp., Randolph County, Arkansas > March 12, 1910 in Holmes, Wylie Twsp., Randolph County, Arkansas Father: David Hodge Parks Mother: Nancy Clemintine Manus > > . 2 Edith Dartha Morgan b: 1872 in Anna, Union County, Illinois > > . 2 Lethia Victoria Morgan b: Abt. 1876 in Anna, Union County, Illinois > > . 2 Lydia Palestina Morgan b: 1880 in Anna, Union County, Illinois > > . 2 Martin Dillard Morgan b: March 01, 1892 in Holmes, Wylie Twsp., Randolph County, Arkansas d: August 10, 1976 in On a Teusday:Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Walnut Ridge, Lawrence County, Arkansas > > *3rd Wife of [1] James Alexander "Elick" Morgan: > . +Justine Bates b: Abt. 1874 in Census say Missouri d: Abt. 1915 in Randolph County, Arkansas > > . 2 Walter Franklin Morgan b: November 15, 1895 in Holmes, Wylie Twsp., Randolph County, Arkansas d: July 22, 1981 in Williford, Sharp County, Arkansas > ..... +Viola Catherine King b: September 16, 1907 in Sharp County, Arkansas d: March 10, 1988 in Williford, Sharp County, Arkansas Father: James Lewis King Mother: Jaletta "Deletta" Francis Malone > > . 2 Monroe Morgan b: March 1897 in Holmes, Wylie Twsp., Randolph County, Arkansas d: April 1903 in when he was 6 yrs. old > > . 2 Minnie Marie Morgan b: 1904 in Holmes, Wylie Twsp., Randolph County, Arkansas d: 1951 in Covington, Kentucky > > ==== HOLMES Mailing List ====