This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BMB.2ACE/874.1.1.2.1.1.2.1 Message Board Post: Regarding the probate records, they are the only complete lists that I know of, of the children of Matthew II and Matthew III. I do not know if any children may have been left off of either list. Something I just noticed on the 1880 census for Levi/William Riley is that it states his father was born in VA. IF this information is correct, it is a problem for you in that Matthew III (the one you call Matthew Jr who was married to Abigail) was born in Tennessee. His father Matthew II (the one you call Matthew Sr) was born in North Carolina. Matthew I (whom I call Matthew SR and the father of your Matthew SR) was born in Virginia, but was in his 80's in the 1830's. Additionally, the 1880 census states that he was born in 1840 in Tennessee, not 1837 in Iowa. This is actually good news for you, in that it places it within the realm of possibility that Matthew III was his father. HOWEVER, having said that, here is an abstract of the 1850 Scott County census, showing Matthew III, Henry and Jesse Massengale, three of Matthew II's sons, living next door to one another. William Riley, who would have been around 10-13 years old (if the census records are correct), is not in enumerated in any of these households. I do think William Riley somehow belongs to the family of Matthew II, but as with the Massengales in general, there is a tangle of misinformation to sort through to get to the truth. One thing I have discovered--when you find the missing puzzle piece, everything else falls into place. 1850 Federal Population Census District No 18, Scott County, Tennessee 27 September 1850 p. 379 258-258 M.[athew] Massingille40 M Farmer Tennessee Elizabeth Massengill 42 F Tennessee Nancy Massengill 19 F Tennessee Lewis Massengille 14 M Tennessee Henry Massengille 10 M Tennessee 259-259 H. [enry] Massengille 46 M Farmer Tennessee Mary Massengille 39 F Tennessee Mathew Massengill 18 M Tennessee Disea Massengille 13 F Tennessee Wm Massengille 9 M Tennessee Jessee Massengille 7 M Tennessee 260-260 Jessee Massengille 38 M Farmer Tennessee Disea Massengille 38 F Tennessee Elijah Massengille 2 M Tennessee Here is Milla Massengale, d/o Matthew III: 1850 Federal Population Census Perry Township, Marion County, Indiana p. 332 201-201 Meshack Laws 24 M Laborer Ky Amelia Laws 19 F Tenn Mary J Laws 7 F Tenn Washington Grider who would eventually marry Phebe? Phebeber? Massengale is enumerated in Russell Co, KY, age 13, the son of Wilkerson Grider. Matthew III was in Russell County in 1865. Phebeber is listed as Mary Ann in a later census.