I have a new theory about Rachel Lail who was married briefly to Henry Mull. I have recently posted both her marriage record to Henry and a possible death record for her. I questioned the reliablity of the death record because although her marriage record lists her parents as John and Bettie Lail, her death record lists her father's name as Pruitt. Here is my theory: this Rachel Lail was the daughter of Daniel Lagle / Lail, who was born about 1836 (NC), parents unknown, and Elizabeth "Betty" Lail, who was born about 1842, and was the daughter of John Lail and Catherine Lewis. Here is the census record for Daniel, Elizabeth, and Rachel in 1860. They were living next door to Elizabeth's parents, John and Catherine Lagle / Lail. 1860 U.S. Census Daniel LAGLE [No twp.], Burke Co., NC Page 407 Daniel LAGLE 24 Farmer NC Elizabeth LAGLE 17 NC Rachel LAGLE 28 / 365 NC Daniel appears to have died during the Civil War or shortly thereafter. 17 December 1865 his widow, Elizabeth Lail, marries Archibald Pruitt, in Burke Co., NC. (North Carolina marriage bonds). 1870 U.S. Census I have yet to find either Rachel LAIL or Archibald and Elizabeth Lail Pruitt in the 1870 census. Archibald Pruitt and Elizabeth Lail Pruitt were living in Burke Co. in 1880. I do not know where Rachel was living. She may have been married and lving in Burke County. 1880 U.S. Census Archibald PRUITT Lower Fork, Burke, North Carolina Page 297C Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Archibald PRUITT Self M Male W 36 NC Farmer NC NC Elizabeth PRUITT Wife M Female W 37 NC Keeping House NC NC Amas PRUITT Son S Male W 13 NC At Home NC NC Julius PRUITT Son S Male W 10 NC At Home NC NC Silas PRUITT Son S Male W 7 NC At Home NC NC Elizabeth PRUITT Dau S Female W 5 NC At Home NC NC 1900 U.S. Census Archable PRUETT Lower Fork Twp., Burke Co., North Carolina National Archives micropublication T623 , roll 1185, ED 12, SD 8, page 209a, sheet 12a, dwelling 225, family 225 Date of enumeration: 27 June 1900 Name Relation Race Gender Birth date Age Mar. status Birthplace Father's birthplace Mother's birthplace Occ. Archable PRUETT HEad W M Oct. 1843 56 M 35 NC NC NC Farmer Elizabeth PRUETT Wife W F Sept. 1842 57 M 35 NC NC NC Mary E. LAIL Granddaughter W M Aug. 1881 18 S NC NC NC Martin P. MULL Great-grandson W M Jan. 1900 4/12 S NC NC NC Note: Elizabeth was the mother of 8 children, 4 of whom were still living. 1900 U.S. Census Henry Mull, living in Burke Co., NC, has a wife named Rachel (40) who is the mother of 1 child who is still living. They have been married 1 year. They are living next door to Timothy LAIL, age 48 (wife Catharine). I do not know where Rachel's daughter, Mary, was in 1910. She may have married or died before 1910. Her son was living with Rachel. 1910 U.S. Census Rachel LAIL is a 50 year old single female head of household in Burke Co. She is the mother of 1 child who is still living. Her 10 yr old grandson (might be a granddaughter?), Merte P. Lail, is living with her. A 60 yr. old boarder, Henry Mull is also living in this household. He has been married twice.William and Idia (Lydia?) Propst are neighbors as are Frank and Ellen BURNS. James and Mary Lail also live in the neighborhood. Based on these census records and the death record for a Rachel Mull in Burke County, I would suggest the following: Rachel Lail, daughter of Daniel Lail and Elizabeth Lail, was born about 1860 in Burke Co., NC. Her father Daniel, a Civil War soldier, died 1860 - 1865. Her mother, Elizabeth, remarried to Archibald Pruitt, in Burke Co., NC, in 1865. Rachel had a daughter out of wedlock about 1881. She was named Mary E. Lail. Rachel Lail married Henry Mull in 1899 in Burke Co. Mary E. Lail had a son out of wedlock about 1899. He was named Martin "Mertie" P. Lail. He was living with his mother and his great-grandparents, Archibald and Elizabeth Pruitt, in 1900. He was living with his grandmother, Rachel Lail Mull, in 1910. His whereabouts after 1910 are unknown. Rachel may have divorced Henry by 1910. Their marital status is not clear in the 1910 census. If not divorced, she was possibly widowed by 1920. Rachel Lail Mull died in Burke Co. in 1926. Although her birth father was Daniel Lail, Archibald Pruitt was the only father she knew - and probably the only father known to whomever supplied the information for Rachel's death certificate. One question remains: why did Rachel list John Lail, rather than Daniel Lail, as her father on her marriage license? It could be that Daniel's middle name was John, or that over the years she had confused her father's and her grandfather's names. I welcome any comments. Teri Tillman