Vicki: I strongly believe that there was a smallpox or yellow fever epidemic in NW AL, NE MS and W TN early 1850's as there were a lot of people not around after that time. During one of those epidemic,s there were no formalities and by and large people were buried in common graves or were burnt to get rei of the sickness. If you look real close at the 1860 census of Tish'o Co. MS and Franklin Co. AL you will see a lot of orphans listed . Hope this sheds some light> Clyde Gotcher - Hermann MO Raking the leaves under my family tree. > Does anyone know anything about the wife of Josiah Watts? She died while the > family was living in Tishomingo Co. between 1844 and 1849. We have found no > trace of her death or burial.