In a message dated 5/7/02 3:09:50 PM, [email protected] writes: << I wouldn't rule out the spelling "SMICK" or "SMACK" Seems like I've corresponded with someone on the SMOCK / SMICK family. I'm "cc'ing" this to Richard Swank who has a Godhard SMICK....pretty close to the "Gorhail" listed above if someone couldn't read the writing. >> _____________ Jan, Good to hear from you. One of the early spellings of SMOCK was SMAK. I have also seen SMOKE. Its all in the hearing of the clerk doing the writing. Several of the marriages you listed are mine and I suspect that there are more, but I can't make the connection yet. I'm focusing on SMOCKs of Southern IL (Randolph, Gallatin, Pope, and Hardin Cos of time period 1800 to 1850. Community is Cave in Rock which over time was in each county listed. I have two major hurdles- 1) Identity of C. SMOCK, USC 1810 Randolph Co., IL Terr 2) Parents of Thomas SMOCK, b. 1821 Cave in Rock, Pope Co., IL There is something of a mystery about the SMOCK family of early Southern IL. The widow of C. SMOCK is identified in 1816 as Sallie SMOCK, but no evidence of his death has been revealed. Sallie/Sarah made application for probate in Gallatin Co., IL Terr but no probate record has been found. In 1816 Pope Co., was created from Gallatin Co., so it is possible that the probate was transferred to Pope Co. At this time I have not uncovered a SMOCK probate record in Pope Co. I could use some help here. The parents of Thomas SMOCK have not been revealed. Thomas, b. 1821, was not the child of Sarah SMOCK who headed the only SMOCK family in the area in 1818 to 1830, further she was reported as a widow from 1816 to 1830 and died a widow in 1850. She is not accounted for by name in 1840, but an elderly female is in the household of Hiram SMOCK in 1840. This is, surely, Sarah SMOCK, widow. Thomas, age 9 in 1830 may be listed as 1 male (10-15) in Sarah SMOCK's household where Hiram SMOCK, 30, is probably the other male (20-30). It is possible that Hiram was Thomas' father, but no marriage or wife has been identified until Hiram married in 1837 to Lydia HUGHES. I need to determine if Hiram was married before 1837. Help here would also be appreciated. Best regards, Hugh