Hello fellow Delmarva West researchers! I'm hoping someone has a hint or idea that may help me get over a brick wall that has been plaguing me for a very long time. My great-grandfather, John Elwood West, was born circa 1867, depending on which document you are reviewing at the time, in Maryland. In the 1900 census in Burlington County, New Jersey, his DOB is listed as May 1872, but he was only a hired farm hand and it was most likely reported wrong by whomever was speaking to the census taker. On his marriage license application, submitted in Philadelphia in November 1900, (my great-grandmother, Katie Keenan) he lists his DOB as March 1867 and born in Maryland. In the 1910 through 1930 census from Burlington County, New Jersey, he always states he was born in Maryland and his parents were also born in Maryland. The estimated DOB based on age reported varies from 1865 to 1867. In the 1920 census, he reports his birthday consistent with his marriage application March 1867. His death certificate lists his DOB as March 14, 1865 and POB as Maryland, as reported by his son. Parents are listed as unknown. I know he went north and was in New Jersey possibly as early as 1897 because he and my ggrandmother had a child (possibly twins based on family legend) out of wedlock late in 1898 (forgive me, Aunt Kate). My grandmother told me John was a "taken child", which she described as being loaned out to a neighboring farm - labor in exchange for food and care. Sounds like an informal indentured servitude to me. The wonderful people at the Cecil County Historical Society confirmed that it was not unusual to send children to help on neighboring farms during this era. With all this, I've searched the entire 1870 census for John West's under the age of 10. There are only 19 total and only two born in Maryland (thanks Heritage Quest) and living in Maryland, and neither of these two are living with anyone named West. One in Cecil County, a Caucasian boy, age 9, living with the Mendenhall family and one in Wicomoco County, a mulatto boy, age 2, living with Thomas and Geoff Parsons and housekeeper Hettie Brimbly (or Primbly). The Cecil County John West shows up in the 1880 census living still in Cecil County with the Warrington family as an 18 year old farm hand. I haven't had any luck finding the Wicomico County John West in the 1880 census, but that could be for a number of reasons. Given the year of his birth (whenever it actually was), I've wondered if John was possibly a Civil War orphan. I'm taking a closer look at West families in both counties to see if I can find a family connection between Wests and either Parsons or Mendenhalls. Meanwhile, does anyone have any idea where I can go from here based on what I know? Even an elimination of a John West is a valuable step forward. Also curious as to what exactly mulatto meant to an 1870 census taker. Obviously, it means someone with a mixed heritage, but those kinds of labels change with the prevailing prejudices of the day. Would there be special records for someone of mixed parentage? Should I check slave schedules? Bastardy bond records? Native American records? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or ideas. Of course, if anyone has a long lost John Elwood West in their family tree that they have been itchin' to connect somewhere, that would be terrific also. ~ Traycie