> Hi Nancy, > I started out with Aills and those collateral lines, then expanded with > those > folks' collateral lines. I have more than 16,000 names in the data now. All > the names connect in some way to those original Aills names in LCK. They > aren't related, they just 'connect or link' because that's the only way the > names > can be found and make sense in my data. I spend a lot of hours going over > the > census records to see if I find names in the census records that I have in > my > data and then add what I find to my file. I work with two other ladies who > help me find sources, documentation and confirmation by searching for names > on > the Web, in FamilySearch.org and USGenWeb sites.    As far as the HAMLIN surname in LCK, I have James Hamlin b 1780, m to Sarah unknown b 1805, found in 1850 LCK census.  They were parents of 6 children. I haven't 'extended' the children by looking for additional data other than Margaret who may be their child. Margaret married Joshua Johnson Esham and they are found in the 1850 LCK census.        I've had a lot of help from other people who have sent me their family files on particular surnames., ie., Plummer, Gulley, Applegate and more.  I'll never get all the data but I'm getting pretty good at understanding and knowing who's who and how they connect to each other in the census records.  Every entry brings more questions and ways to search as you can see from my questions from two nights ago.  I really have fun with this file. Thanks, Sandra My goodness Sandra, yes, you really do a thorough job of researching the Lewis County area:) One never knows when your hard work and documentation will come in handy with finding their families. The James Hamlin and Sarah unknown in the 1850 Lewis County census you mentioned are the progenitors of most of the Lewis County Hamlins that I have researched, but the Margaret that married Joshua Johnson Esham was the daughter of a Rueben Hamlin, a cousin to James. Rueben resided in the Ripley area of Brown County Ohio which is just across the river from Lewis County. Thank you for your help, and best of luck in your quest to link people with their family lines in the area. It sounds as if you have a lot of fun doing it and that is what it is all about. Regards, Nancy