This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4g.2ADE/1784 Message Board Post: I am researching the HALL family in Chestnut Twp., Knox Co. IL. In the 1860 census, in the David E. HALL family, there is a 4-y-o boy, Anson McGrew (b. ~1856). No other McGrews in the family list. This has really puzzled me. (For reference below, one of the Hall children is Polly A., age 22 (b. ~1838) Then in the 1870 census of Maquon Twp., Knox Co. IL, one of the children in the 1860 census, Polly Hall, has married and become Polly Walter. In their young family is a boy listed as Anson B. Walter, age 13 (b. ~1857). Polly and Mr. Walter married in October of 1860. In the 1880 census of Maquon Twp., Knox Co. IL, Polly and Carey Walter list Anson Walter as a son, age 22 (b. ~1858). I am trying to figure out if all the Anson references here are to the same fellow. I'm trying to think of some scenarios that would help me figure out this possibility: Did Polly Hall have a child, Anson, with the father being ____ McGrew? And then possibly the young McGrew father died? She is not listed as a McGrew in the 1860 census (she is Polly A. Hall in her father's home), so maybe she was not married to the McGrew, BUT was an unwed mother? After she married Mr. Walter, he could have adopted Anson, or at least gave him his surname? I looked on rootsweb.worldconnect and found a child of Charles McGrew (living same area), who is Isaac Wilson McGrew (b. ~1837, d. ~1854) Does anyone know anything more of Isaac Wilson McGrew? His birthdate of 1837 would make him near Polly's age. He is also listed as having died "about 1854". Anson was born 1856/58. Could be differences in accuracies of death dates, I suppose. In the estate papers of David Hall (father of Polly) there is reference to Charles and Sarah McGrew, regarding some land. I realize this could just be a coincidence, since the families were neighbors. As you can see, MUCH supposing is happening here..........I could be lucky enough to have an unexpected AHA!.....or be completely wrong on any of it. Would welcome anyone's input. Thank you, Margaret Jenstad