I finally located my Spears great-great grandmother on the 1860 Scott County Virginia census, in the Estillville post office area, on page 437 of the census. The listing reads: John Spears, 28, m, farmer, 100 (column 9), born VA Amy Spears, 26, f, spinster, born VA James ", 9, m, VA Catharine ", 7, f, VA Lucinda ", 5, f, VA Josaphine ", 1, f, VA ________________________________________ I'm unsure abt the census taker's use of "spinster" here. I also noted that there were two Spears in the household listed just previous to John Spears, the household of WIlliam Collins, farmer. A Lucy A. Spears is included as a 25 year old spinster born in VA, and an Adam Spears, a 19 year old male is included as a farm hand. _________________________________________ I believe that the 7 year old Catherine is my great-great grandmother, who married John C.B. Slone in Montgomery County Kentucky in April of 1878. 1. With regard to the proper name, family tradition has always referred to her as "Leah Catherine" or "Katty". 2.The ages match as she is listed on the marriage bond as being 22 years old in 1878. 3. Thelma Dunn's book on Montgomery County Marriage bonds 1876-1881 states that there was a note of permission "from John Spears and Amy E. Spears, parents of Leah C. Spears" to marry John C. Slone. The bond states that they were to be married 14 April 1878 at the home of John Spears. On the negative side, was Amy E. Spears Leah's birth mother or step-mother? If James was 9 and Amy 25 in 1860, that would have made her a pretty young mother--- but certainly not unheard of. John C.B. Slone's family came from Lee county, KY. By 1870, both John and his father Samuel were listed on the Menifee county KY census, with their families. John was listed on his marriage bond as a wagoner; but in the 1870 census he was listed as a miner. They lived in the Slate Creek precinct, and later all moved to Laurel County, KY. I assume they were following the coal. The family "tradition" of young brides continued with John and Leah's son, Benjamin Jefferson Slone, who married Della Etta Noe when she was 14! ______________________________________ Can anyone confirm John and Amy E. Spears marital status? Can anyone tell me who their respective parents were? Also, I have no death date for Leah Catherine Spears Slone (maybe if she could have settled on one name I could track it down!) Anyone who can help me untangle any of this mess will earn my eternal gratitude! Pat H.