Jim, I'm at work and didn't have your email address handy, but thought others might be interested, too, so I'm posting this to the list. For some reason your Raiford problem fascinates me. I ducked downstairs and checked the 1850 census index for NC. There weren't too many KENTS so I copied them all: Amanda Carv 378 Archilus Cald 957 Benjamin Bunc 313 Catharine Dvie 407 Fersbe Dvie 421 Frances Beau 409 Jane Dvie 407 John Cata 332 Malinda Dvie 332 Mary Carv 372 Mary Crav 301 Michael John 070 Mourning Nash 289 Nelson John 070 Philo Cata 331 Sarah Casw 221 Susan Carv 372 Wiley Dvie 376 William Dvie 429 William D. Clfv 188 No Raiford. Interesting aside - surprised at the number of women heads of household. Decided to check the entry for Mourning since it was Nash county and I remember you were looking a Mourning. Also, there was a Henry H. PRIDGEN in Nash County at the same time (256). Checked the Henry H. Pridgen. Single man, 30something (didn't write it down) not the family. Mourning KENT, 70, in family of B. H. BOTTOMS - possibly Willie BOTTOMS, 35, is daughter of Mourning KENT. Could this be Raiford's mother? Back to the indices. No 1850 for South Carolina on the shelf; no Raiford KENT in Georgia or Alabama, but hit on Alabama, Greene County, 302. Found: Raiford KENT, 39, b. NC, Prim. Baptist minister Celia B., 34, b. NC Henry H., 17, b. AL Sally C., 12, b. AL Mourning E. J., 8, b. AL Francis W., 6, b. AL (if this is John Frank the date you have is right, but child of 2nd marriage) Madison M., 5, b. AL (must by your Matthew) Albert, 3, b. AL Martha, 1, b. AL Christie, 1, b. AL (Martha and Christie were not called twins; I would still say Albert born in Nov 1846 rather than Nov 1847; if your other dates are correct Martha would be just about 2, and Christie 1) There is a Rowford in Alabama in 1840 index in Cherokee County. Probably the same guy. There is Mourning in 1830 index in North Carolina, probably the same as above, meaning she was widowed some time before 1830. No time to investigate further. Lin Wright