To: the Franklin Co, Jefferson Co, and Washington Co. mailing lists. In the quest to track down my grandmother's cousins, I am looking now for the children and grand-children of John MOTHERSHEAD. New surnames of interest are: THURMOND, PIERCE, PRUITT (in it's various forms), CARDWELL/CARDWILL. I am also curious whether anyone knows anything about the ministers performing the marriages. Note that "the action" has now moved to Franklin County. OK, here are the marriages I have found that are possibilities. There seem to be quite a few "George," and "Charles" and "Thomas" Mothersheads, so I can't be SURE, but the children and their spouses MAY go like this: Charles MOTHERSHEAD, b. 1858. I see a marriage to Nancy M. THURMOND on 19 May 1897. Both were living in George, Franklin County. Celebrant was A.M. Todd. Charles would have been 39, which seems old. (Franklin Co Marriages, Vol. H, page 301) Lucy MOTHERSHEAD, b. 1860. I see a Lucy MOTHERSEAD marrying James M. PIERCE on 20 Aug 1890. Both were living in Central Twp, Franklin Co. Celebrant was M.B. Hurt (or Hunt?) If it's this Lucy, she would have been 30. (Franklin Co Marriages, Vol. G, p. 28.) Note: There is at least one other known Pierce connection to the MOTHERSHEAD's. If this Lucy is the daughter of John MOTHERSHEAD, then the Anna Belle MOTHERSHEAD that married William Heenan PIERCE was Lucy's cousin. (Franklin Co Marriages, Vol.G, p. 28) Lewis MOTHERSHEAD, b. 1862. No marriage found (yet). Martha MOTHERSHEAD, b. 1865. No marriage found (yet). George MOTHERSHEAD, b. 1866. Married Eva PRUITT 18 Feb. 1891. Celebrant M.B. Hurt, Baptist Minister. Married in residence of J. CARDWILL. Both were residing in Prairie Twp, Franklin Co. Celebrant is M.B. Hurt. These are my mother's maternal grandparents, with whom my mother lived when she attended high school. She said that after Eva's mother died, Eva "lived with the Cardwell family." My mother also gave the marriage as occurring in Feb. 1891, so I was thrilled to get a copy of this record this morning! (Franklin Co Marriages, Vol G, p. 92.) The Franklin Co. list may recall that previously we found out that Eva's sister Matilda was Charles Shoults' second wife and that her sister Adelyn married Simon Wall. (I still haven't found a good clue as to the sister's parents.) Thomas MOTHERSHEAD, b. 1869. (This is the Thomas MOTHERSHEAD there may be two of--one descended from an Indian who took the name MOTHERSHEAD and one from John MOTHERSHEAD, son of Clifton M/Head) I see a Thomas MOTHERSHEAD marrying Mary THURMOND on 16 Apr 1893. Both are of Prairie Twp, Franklin Co. Celebrant is A.M. Todd, a minister of the Gospel. Note that the Charles MOTHERSHEAD above married Nancy THURMOND (same last name as Mary) eight years later. (Franklin Co. Marriages, Vol G, p. 324.) -------- All of these marriages took place in Franklin Co, not Jefferson Co. -------- So, in the 1900 and 1910 and 1920 censuses, I am especially watching for the following, who are more likely to be in Franklin Co than in Jefferson Co.: -MOTHERSHEAD, Charles and Nancy -PIERCE, James M. and Lucy -MOTHERSHEAD, Lewis or Louis, b. 1862 -MOTHERSHEAD, Martha, b. 1865 -MOTHERSHEAD, George, b. 1866, and Eva, b. 1874 -MOTHERSHEAD, Thomas, b. 1869, and Mary (and any other Thomas MOTHERSHEAD's that might be around). Questions: -Does anyone recognize any of these families as "theirs?" -Does anyone know the names of the children of these families? -Is there more than one Thomas MOTHERSHEAD around at this time? -Does anyone know more about the CARDWELL's? -Is there reason to believe one or more of these marriages was NOT by a child of John MOTHERSHEAD? Thank you for any help! I have Soundex indices awaiting me at the local FHC for some of these census, and I will "get there" on my own eventually, but it is a thrill when someone else supplies just that right piece of the puzzle, so I am posting this as well as continuing to research "the slow way." Susan in Rochester