Since I am reading all posts in an effort to learn I see the comment about the Lovelop I am sure most of you are now aware of the infamous leading s in old handwriting. I spend a lot of time as an Indiana INGenWeb web site coordinator for three different counties here in Indiana, so I transcribe bunches of original documents. I had a devil of a time until I figured it out. Here is a regular lower case "s" and another "s" that looks like a backward lower case "f." EXAMPLE Over 100 years ago the "s" was often written like a backward "f." This strange symbol for "s" was used very commonly in instances where there was a "double s." The unusual s first, called the "leading s." Then the regular s. So Loveless looking like Lovelop or Lovelep would be normal. Sheila Kell the new cuzin