Dear List, Over the years, I've tried to figure out my Osborne lines They always had me stumped and it seems the more I research them, the more confused I become. If they didn't intertwine, maybe it wouldn't be so confusing....but it is. I have so many unanswered questions!! I'm going to try to break them down, one by one, and ask any Osborne researchers, or any one from the list who may be able to help me figure this all out. My first confusion: My question is....on the 1900 and 1910 census, she says she had 12 children, 8 still alive. On the 1870, she is listed with three of her children from William Osborne. Her last child from William Osborne was William, who was born in 1863. William Osborne ( Sr) died n 1862/63 during the Civil War.( He was the son of Enoch Osborne and Malinda Farmer ) So....that's three children....if she stayed a widow---- ( which census indicates she did) then where are the other 5 children, and who fathered them? One the 1900 census, she is listed as being mother in law to Wiley Saylor, husband of Amanda....Amanda would have been born in 1876.....is this one of Nancy Osborne's children? It looks that way from the census record. Would the children have been taken away from her and sent to live with someone else? I know they did that back then. This are questions from just one of my Osborne lines. In order not to confuse and make this post a book, I'll leave it at this and post separately on the other Osborne questions I have. I'll address Nancy Cawood Osborne's parentage another time. If anyone has the time or the patience or the inclination to help, I would be forever grateful. :) Anne * * ************************************* Enoch Osborn b 1811 md Malinda Farmer b 1817 William Osborne b 1838 d 1863 md Nancy Cawood b abt. 1839 *dau of Mary Shell/Cawood and ? William Osborne b. 1863 md Manerva Howard b 1856 Mary Osborne b 1883 md Frank Finley Shackleford *William Osborne, who md Nancy Cawood, died in 1863 during the Civil War. Here she is on the 1870 HC census:* Osborne, Nancy age 35 ( Cawood) widow of William Osborne d 1863 civil war Stephen age 11 Mary age 9 William age 6 * my ggrandfather b. 1863 Turner, Mary A( black) cook age 32 Charles age 14 (black) farm labor Phillips Elizabeth age 40 domestic servant Martha age 13 at home Susan age 2 living next door is her mother and step-dad (?) 1870 HC Osborn Jonathon 56 farmer Mary 45 Mary A 20 William 19 Jane 16 Sarah 8 Nancy 6 *1880 HC census: *Osborne, Nancy age 45 widown William age 17 living next door and above her on the census are: Osborne, Stephen age 21 Elizabeth age 33 Alafair age 3 Gaun??? 7 mos son And living right below her on the census is: Osborne, Jonathan age 65 Mary age 68 Jane age 25 dau Sarah age 20 dau Nancy age 17 granddau Nathan age 10 grandson Robert age 7 grandson Sarah age 4 grand dau Mary age 3 grand dau and living next to them is: Osborne, William age 28 Sarah age 27 Martha aage 6 John age 4 Mary age 2 Cloninger Grant age 10 brother-in-law *There is no 1890* *Here she is on the 1900 HC census: * 1900 HC census Saylor Wiley b apr1872 age 28 9yrs md 4 children Amanda b Jan 1876 age 24 Oscar son Jun1893 age 7 Bradley son oct 1895 age 4 Grant son oct 1897 age 2 Mertle dau Nov 1899 age 7 mos Osborne Nancy mother in law age 69 widowed 12 children 8 alive *And here she is on the 1910 HC census:* 1910 HC census Saylor, Wiley M age 37 Amanda age 35 Bradley age 15 Grant age 13 Martha? age 10 Ner?? age 8 Howard age 6 Clark age Helen age 2 Osborn, Nancy age 80 wd 12 children 8 alive