This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CBB.2ACE/5177.2.3.1.2.1 Message Board Post: I'll ask the same question back if you have any proof showing Gordon as the s/o Edward. If Gordon was the child of Edward and Anna he would have showed up in the 1860 census with them. I think after Sarah died Moses took the older children with him but I just don't know what happened to Gordon. My guess is he is probably with some of Sarah's family, but try as I have I can't track them down. 1850 Knox County Federal Census 81-83 Messer, Edward, 34, Farmer, Ky Ann,35, Ky Walker, Elizabeth,16, Ky (from Ann’s first marriage) Messer, William, 14, Ky martha, 12, Ky Asa G., 10 Ky Dicy, 8, Ky Allen, 6, Ky Mary, 4, Ky Richard, 3/12, Ky Gordon is not in this census if Edward and Anna are his parents. 1860 Knox Co census. 597/597 Messer Edward 44 KY Anna 50 Jane (f) 25 Asa J. 21 Ticia? (f) 18 Allen 16 Mary 12 Richard 10 Gordon does show up here but so does Ellis s/o Moses and after the rest of Edwards children are already mentioned. If Gordon was Edwards son I believe he would have been listed with Edwards children before the 'others' in the household 1870 Knox County Census 90-1-1 Flat Lick Messer, Edward 55, farmer, Ky. Mary 21, Ky. <Scalf> Elihuw 4, Ky. child of Edward and Mary Anthony 1, Ky. child of Edward and Mary Richard 20, Ky. child of Edward and Anna below Ellis 13, Ky. Son of Moses see below Gorden 16, Ky. I believe this is the son of Moses Anna 60, Ky. ex-wife of Edward Jane 35, Ky. child of Anna and John Walker Martha 2 mo., Ky. child of Jane Here is Moses and his family during the same time period Again, Gordon wasn't born yet 1850 Knox County Kentucky Census Dwelling #99-101 Messer, Moses farmer KY Sarah 27 KY Edmond 6 KY Ebeneezer 5 Winny 4 John 2 Moses shows up in the household of his Uncle (his mothers brother) in 1860 Sarah died in 1858. Gordon doesn't show up with them either. But, Ellis does and by 1870 Ellis and Gordon are living with Edward. 1860 Knox Co. Census, # 605 GULDEN, Thomas 56, KY .. Mary An 43, KY .. Stephen 15, KY .. Polly 7, KY .. Mandy 6, KY .. Mosses 3, KY .. Winna 16, KY (Winnie Messer) .. John 14, KY (John Messer) .. Thomas 9, KY (Thomas Messer .. Ellis 6, KY (Ellis Messer) MESSER, Mosses 36, KY To know for sure one needs to track down a death record or his marriage record. i couldn't find either.