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/391.579.1.1 Message Board Post: Hello, I am not really familiar at all with your family; however, a check of the 1880 Knox Co. shows this family which does appear to be yours. Remember, ages almost always vary in the census records due to general illiteracy of the population at that time and simple poor recordkeeping practices. Dwelling 47-48 GRAY, Thomas, 30, b. KY; parents b. KY . Adaline, 25, wife, b. KY; parents b. Ky . Fleming, 6, son, b. KY . Mary, 3, dau, b. KY There is this marriage record in Knox Mar. Book BB and C dated Sept. 4, 1879: GRAY, J. T. to GAMBREL, Adaline By: E. F. ARTHUR at: Flat Lick Wit: Elliott BAKER and Mariah BAKER The marriage date (assuming this is the Thomas GRAY) would mean that his name was a John or James or Joseph or similiar other "J" names plus the name, Thomas. It would also mean that either they had children prior to their marriage or he was married prior and they are someone else's children. I am guessing that this Adaline would be the daughter of Martin GAMBREL. By the time of the 1900 Knox, this appears to be the same couple: Dwelling 98-99 GRAY, Thos., husband, b. 3-1850, 50, mar. 18 yrs, b. KY; parents b. KY . Adeline, wife, b. 4-1850, 50, mar. 18 yrs, 4 born; l living, b. KY; parents b. KY . Mat, stepson, b. 5-1873, 17, KY, day laborer . George, stepson, b. 5-1895, 5, KY NOTE: Since they married in 1879, it is difficult to explain why the two sons as listed as stepsons because they are within the years of the marriage. However, if you look at the age, 17, IT SHOULD MEAN THAT MAT WAS BORN IN 1883! It could mean that they took in these children of someone elses. It could mean any number of things. This appears to be Flemming: Dwelling 181-184 GRAY, Flem, husband, b. 8-1873, 26, mar. 1 yr, b. KY; parrents b. KY - day laborer . Marinda, wife, b. 4-1870, 30, mar. 1 yrs, l born; l living, b. KY; parents b. KY . Lee, son, b. 5-1896, 4, b. KY; parents NOTE: If this is correct, then the son, Lee, most probably was from some other relationship of Marinda prior to her l yr. marriage to Flemming GRAY. I do not see the first marriage for Flemming GRAY but here is a second marriage: Mar. Book J for Knox Co. dated January 2, 1903, Page 520 Groom and Bride - 2nd marriages at C. B. WoOLUMS GRAY, Flem, 23, b. Knox, father, Thos. GRAY to: HENSLEY, Laura, age 23, b. Knox Co. Lastly, this appears to be the marriage of your Mary B. GRAY: Knox Co. Marriage Bond Book T, Page 165 dated: June 14, 1899 Groom and Bride - lst marriages at Thomas GRAY's BAKER, Ambros, age 21, b. Knox Co. to: GRAY, Mary B., age 21, b. Knox Co.; father; Thomas GRAY You have mentioned you wondered what the "B" stood for in Mary's name. I would hazard a guess it stood for "Belle/Bell". The name, Mary Belle was a popular one in those days. Although she was only married for one year, it appears that she died before the 1900 Knox Census. See this listing: Dwelling 94-95 LEATH, Abraham, husband, b. 10-1832, 77, mar. 50 yrs, b. VA; parents b. VA . Catherine, wife, b. 11-1832, 77, mar. 50 yrs, b. KY; parents b. KY BAKER, Ambrose, grandson, b. 7-1877, 22, "a widow", b. KY; father b. NC; mother b. KY - farm laborer ALL of the information I have given to you is easily and readily available from the transcribed Fed. Census records and marriages records sold by the Knox Co. Genealogical Society. Hopefully with some of this information, you can find someone more familiar with your family than myself. Joyce Taylor Collins La Palma, CA