In a message dated 2/22/03 3:40:39 PM, AntiqueDish@jps.net writes: << Do you have any first names? There was an Edward Riston in Baltimore Co., in 1722. >> Samuel N. Riston was born in 1871 in Baltimore. I've been unable to find him in the 1880 census, which might give direction as to who his parents were. As a child growing up, I was told that my grandfather had been left an orphan. I did find a Samuel, foundling, 6 enumerated in a Catholic orphanage in Baltimore. I wrote them requesting information, but only heard back that they would look into it. I don't think the family knew the name of his father, because I have a picture just labeled S. N. Riston's father. The picture of the mother says Mary Sinclair, S. N. Riston's mother. According to all the census Mary Sinclair was born in MD. I've been unable to find a marriage between a Mary Sinclair and an unknown Riston in a reasonable timeframe prior to 1871. Until I'm able to find a marriage between Mary Sinclair and Unknown Riston I'm up against the Wall. Most of my searching has been around Baltimore, but this marriage could have taken place in any county, so if anyone has indexes to marriages in other counties for this time period and would be willing to check it out, I would really appreciate it. I sent for my grandfather's death certificate, luckily it was in Oct before the MD Archives shut down on such certificates, but I don't hold out much luck on obtaining new information. Edward Riston of Baltimore in 1722 could be an ancestor, but I have a big gap to close before 1722. Thanks, Elberta Elberta