This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, McCan, Geary, Ashley Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/QOz.2ACEB/751.9.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi, Jan, Just couldn't let go of this one! Seeing Patrick's name in the index just meant that he had to be somewhere in Roane County, even in Geary Dist. as the index said, especially because his wife was a Geary. Well, his family was on page 4, not 11 as the index stated. Must admit, that "4" did look a bit like two "1"s! Had found Smiths in Newton, Geary Dist., Roane County so I was searching all those pages. . . Wrong Smiths! I should have looked for your Samuel in the index but with a name like Smith it seemed futile. The obvious, yet still interesting situation, is that in 1870 these two families were living almost next door! Samuel Smith was the local M.E. Minister while Patrick McCan was the local physician and that was in Osborne Mills, Geary Dist. This is how I read the information, translating ages into approx. years of birth: 1 Patrick MCCAN b: December 25, 1822 in Lewis County, WVd: August 07, 1906 in Edison, NB +Isabella A GEARY b: July 25, 1835 in Roane Co., WVd: January 23, 1922 in Sterling, KS Father: Mathew GEARYMother: Elizabeth Almira ASHLEY 2 Margaret MCCAN b: Abt. 1852 2 Richard L. MCCAN b: Abt. 1853 2 Esther E or P. MCCAN b: Abt. 1856 2 Martha E. MCCAN b: Abt. 1858 2 Ebby C. MCCAN b: Abt. 1859 2 Jesse D. MCCAN b: Abt. 1861 2 Ambrose E B.? MCCAN b: Abt. 1862 2 Sherman J. MCCAN b: Abt. 1866 2 Bertie U.? MCCAN b: Abt. 1867 Looks like the 1880 census would be needed to answer all your questions, but this is a good start. Best regards, Jane