This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: WARD Classification: Lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/iJB.2ACE/1002 Message Board Post: In a military statement my great great grandfather Laurel L. WARD says he was born in Tippah Co. MS. on Feb. 14, 1842. The first I have found of him on any census is in 1860 at age 18 he was enumerated in Memphis, Shelby CO. TN In the 1860 Shelby Co Census he is listed as a "teamster".The HOH is "John WARD" age 49 "farmer" b. ALABAMA. I believe this to be his *father but have no proof. There are 5 other WARD sons listed as labor: Henry 17, John 12, Wm 10, Duke 9 and Jerome 3 ALL the children are listed as BORN IN MISSISSIPPI so I can surmise that they moved from Ms to Tn no earlier than 1857. I am trying to find this family in any 1850 MISSISSIPPI census...so far without luck. The logical locations would be Tippah, Marshall or DeSoto Cos. If anyone can do a lookup for "John WARD" I would appreciate it Laurel returned to Mississippi and served there in the Civil War was severly wounded at Shiloh,married my gggrandmother Anna Eliza SCHRIMSHER in TATE CO, MS in 1877 and was enumerated in DeSoto Co.MS in 1880. The family had re-located to Madison Co AL by the 1890's. I'm desperately trying to find out more about the elusive John WARD and to prove he is Laurel L. WARD's father. Thank you for any and all help. Melissa Ellis Co TX NOTE:* my great grandfather was named John William Lemuel WARD...Laurel L Ward and Anna Eliza SCHRIMSHER's first child born in DeSoto Co. MS in 1878.