After seeing a few replies to the early death question among HOOKERs, I decided turn it into a math problem to prove that HOOKERs had a lifespan similar to any other family (in Kentucky anyway). Using the "Kentucky Death Records" database from Ancestry, I copied all the HOOKERs, BLACKBURNs, & REDMONs into an Excel spreadsheet. BLACKBURN & REDMON (my parents surnames) were picked as a control group to compare to the HOOKERs. Again, my objective was to show that HOOKERs were no different than the other surnames. Well, the results did not turn out as I had expected. For BLACKBURN deaths in Kentucky from 1911 to 2000, the average lifespan was 60.7 years For REDMON deaths in Kentucky from 1911 to 2000, the average lifespan was 61.3 years For HOOKER deaths in Kentucky from 1911 to 2000, the average lifespan was 53.5 years Not sure what to attribute this difference to, but it does seem statistically significant. These numbers included all death for each surname (i.e. females who were HOOKERs, BLACKBURNs, & REDMONs by marriage only WERE included). Infants who died at less than age 1 yr were considered to be 1 year old (i.e. babies who died between 1 day and 365 days were all listed as 1 year old). As time allows, I may try a few more surnames to see where other groups fit in. BTW - if anyone wants the KY Death Index HOOKER list, contact me off list and I can send the Excel file or text. Lee Blackburn (my mother-in-law is my connection to HOOKER) Paducah, KY