Could some kind soul out there (and I know there are many of you) check the 1860 Maine census for Kennebec county for John A. Richards. Here is the continuing story of my attempt to break down a brick wall: I found a marriage record from the IGI for a John A. Richards and a Nancy E. Allard from 7 Dec 1863. I suspect that this John A. Richards might be the father of my great-grandfather who was also John A. (for Albert) Richards, who was born on 25 Oct 1864 (or '65). The John A. Richards who got married in 1863 was born in Hallowell, Kennebec County, in 1848 and was the son of -- yes -- John Richards, himself born in 1818 in Hallowell, Kennebec County, Maine (this would make three John Richards in a row....or brick wall to the third power...), so perhaps there is some census listing in 1860 in Hallowell for a John Richards (Number 1) who was 42 with a son named John Richards (Number 2) who would have been 12 in 1860. All this numbering reminds me a little of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Besides the IGI marriage record, I have found no other record for John Richards and his wife Nancy, nee Allard. I am assuming that both were very, very young, that perhaps Nancy died in childbirth, and that John Albert Richards (if indeed he were their son) took off for parts west, landing in California in the 1880s. Thanks for any help you kind souls out there might give and best wishes for a Happy New Year from a cold and snowy northwest Germany, Jeff Richards Muenster, Germany