Joyce, No this is not an error. Stephen Dillard MESSER b. 1851 is a child of Stephen Dillard MESSER b. 1821 and Rebecca WOOLUM. Stephen (1851) did marry both Catherine PARROTT and then Rebecca SWANSON. Stephen (1821) is a child of Stephen MESSER b.1788 Sarah Sally GREGORY. I have seen others call her Betsy GREGORY, but I think it is the same person. This Stephen (1788) is a child of John MESSER and Agnes Unknown. The death certificate of Tennessee MESSER just threw me for a loop when it listed James MESSER as father. The informant is a W J MESSER. I'm not 100% sure of who this is, but Stephen (1851) and Rebecca SWANSON had a William J MESSER and if he was the informant he should have known who his and his siblings father was. Cassy. RESPONSE: Perhaps it is an error. I have Stephen Dillard MESSER as a child of Stephen MESSER and Rebecca WOOLUM. He had a first marriage in 1871 as follows: Knox Co. Marriage Book BB and C dated June 8, 1871 MESSER, Stephen D., b. Knox Co.; age 21, father: b. Knox Co.; mother b. Harlan Co. to PARROTT, Catherine E., res.: Knox co.; age 21, b. Knox Co.; father b. Knox Co. by: John G. AMIS, M.G. at: John G. AMIS Wit: Mary AMIS and Mary P. AMIS Pr. and Sur.: Stephen D. MESSER and W. B. ANDERSON In 1850 , 1860 and 1870 his parents are in Knox Co. By 1870, his mother and he and James C., age 6 are together and she has been widowed. In 1880, Stephen D. MESSER is in Bell Co. as follows: Dwelling 181 - ED7 MESSER, Stephen, 28 . . Cathrine, wife,33 . . thomas, son, 6 . . Emma, dau, 4 YORK, Anderson, husband, 24 . . Lucinda, wife, 21 . . Christopher, son, 2 In 1887, Stephen D. MESSER's marriage to Rebecca SWANSON is recorded in two different books in Bell Co. as follows: August 19, 1887 MESSER, Stephen D. to SWANSON, Rebecca, Book G, page 469 August 20, 1887 MESSER, Stephen D. to SWANSON, Rebecca, Book A, page 124 In 1900 Stephen D. shows as follows: Bell Co. ED12 Dwelling 30 MESSER, S. D., 48 . . Rebecca B., wife, 31 . . Lillie Percy, dau, 11 . . William J., son, 10 . . Steven D., son, 8 . . Rebecca An, dau, 6 . . Kittie, dau, 3 In 1910 he remains in Bell co.: Dwelling 20 - ED20 MESSER, Stephen D., 58 . . Rebecca, wife, 41 . . Stephen A., son, 17 . . Rebecca A., dau, 15 . . Kittie, dau, 12 . . Tennessee, dau, 9 - a twin?? . . Allie, dau, 9 - a twin?? . . James M., son, 6 . . colson A., son, 12 mo's I've never located the parents of Rebecca SWANSON or found her in Knox or Bell prior to their marriage. Do you know more? Joyce Taylor Collins La Palma, CA Message text written by INTERNET:KYKNOX-L@rootsweb.com >Does anyone have access to either the 1910 or 1900 Bell County Census? I am looking for either Stephen Dillard Messer or James Messer that is married to Rebecca Swanson. Rebecca had a child die in 1911 and Her daughter Tennessee's, death certificates states that James Messer and Rebecca Swanson are the parents, however all I have ever seen is her married to Stephen Dillard Messer. Or if someone could look up the marriage record date of marriage is 19 Aug 1887. < -- Please check out my new free genealogy site. Let me know what you think while I'm still in the process of building. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~foe3643/