Thomas SMOCK lived his adult life in IL along the Ohio River (north shore). He was married twice. His first wife was Polly unknown by whom he had 3 children. His second wife was Mary SIMMONS by whom he had another family. The first census in which he was carried was USC 1850 Hardin Co., IL at which time he was listed as 28. The records of his death indicate that he was born in 1821. Several censuses support the 1821 date and that he was born in IL. The area of south eastern IL was originally all Randolph Co., then (1812) became Gallatin Co, then (1816) Pope Co. and finally in 1837 became Hardin Co. A census examination of all Smocks in Southeastern Illinois did not reveal a male of Thomas' age in any of the SMOCK families with one possible exception. In 1830 in the household of Sarah SMOCK there is a male (10-15). Thomas would have been 9 at the time. Sarah (58), b. 1772, was a widow of more than 14 years and had raised a large family. Her husband (C. SMOCK) died before 1816. By 1830 Sarah, her son, Hiram (then 30), the male (10-15) and a female (<5) were all that was left at home. Hiram was old enough to be the father of the minor two children, but there is no evidence of a marriage for him until 1837. There were four unidentified males older than Hiram in Sarah's 1820 family. So one could speculate that one of them fathered Thomas and subsequently died leaving Thomas an orphan. This is more likely, as had Hiram been the father, his place of birth was known to be KY and the info was accessible to Thomas. The whereabouts of Thomas in 1840 is unknown. He would have been 19 (15-20). He is in the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. In the USC 1880 Hardin Co., IL there are no entries for the state of birth of Thomas' parents which would suggest that he did not know or remember much about them. The first SMOCK in southern IL was reflected in the USC1810 Randolph Co., IL Territory. This was C. SMOCK with wife (later determined to be Sarah), and 11 children (6 males and 5 females). Of these 11 the four younger males and two younger females are identified. This means that the older members were adults and could represent one or two married couples. By 1820 the males had increased to 10 while the females decreased by 3. The increase in males included an increase of 2 minor males (<10) and an increase of two adult males. The increase of adult males suggests marriages into the family. The decrease of 3 adult females suggests outside marriages or death. Southern Illinois was primitive place at the time. Hostile Indians were still active, the War of 1812-15 occurred, and the Ohio River was a dangerous body of water. Thus the origins of Thomas SMOCK are a mystery. If Thomas is related to the SMOCKs of southeastern IL, he would have been born in Pope Co., probably in or near Cave in Rock where much of the SMOCK clan lived in the 1800s. Would like to hear from anyone with an interest in these SMOCKs. Best regards, Hugh