Hello Duplin and Onslow! Can anyone offer any help? I had previously asked if anyone had a record of Agnes Caroline McGowan marrying a Hewitt but now, I do believe that it was, in fact, her mother Julia that married a Hewitt. The reason for I think this is because Agnes and Mary, both daughters of Julia used the name Hewitt in 1880. But please read below because there are other possibilities. Maybe you can help solve the mystery of Julia. In the 1880 Duplin Co. census on page 10 & 11 it lists: Cole, Bassel W M 68 farmer Nancy W F 27 Wife keeping house Clarkey W F 5 Dau. James R. W M 30 Boarder Farmer Allis C. W F 25 Wife Border (Actual birth date: April 2 1858) Census info thanks to Keith! 1880 Onslow census (Julia Styron's son William) William McGowan brother 24 (1856) Ann S. wife 17 Mary daughter 2/12 Starkey brother 20 (1860) Mary Jarman mother of Ann 48 Mary S. Hewitt sister 19 (1859) (I don't know at this point, who the head of household is, William or some one else. It may or may not be relevant.) Above, all 4 children are accounted for, William, Agnes (Allis), Starkey and Mary S., but not mother, Julia Styron McGowan. Facts: 1. Agnes Caroline McGowans marriage record shows her name as Allis C. Hewitt. (1880 Duplin) 2. Census record shows her name Allis C. (1880 Duplin) 3. Headstone, husbands will, etc. show her name to be Agnes Caroline McGowan. 4. Agnes' sister is showing on census as Mary S. Hewitt. (1880 Onslow) 5. A custody suit was brought against Julia for the welfare of her children. It was stated that her children were working to support her and she could keep custody of them. A doctor testified for her in this case. 6. As widow of a service man, Julia would have been eligible for a pension, which she never collected. Since she had financial problems in 1870, the courts would have informed her of her pension, but did not. Either she was no longer eligible or just didn't know she could. As well as finding Julia Styron, we also need to find out why the name changes of the children. There are many possibilities. I think that since two of the children show the last name of Hewitt, at least temporarily, we can assume we are not looking for a marriage of Agnes to a Hewitt. Instead, we should be looking for a marriage record for Julia Styron McGowan to someone Hewitt. Please keep in mind when reading the possibilities below, that while some is fact, some is figments of my imagination and should not be treated in your files as facts, unless otherwise proven. Possibility #1 Julia Styron and Edward Starkey McGowan marry and have 4 children. He goes off to war and is killed when the children are little. Julia is sick, either physically or mentally in 1770 and unable to work to support her children. The two older children who would be working would be 14 and 12. I don't think it is possible for two children to earn enough money to support a family of 5. It could be that the children who were referred to in the 1870 custody case that were supporting her, would have been older children from a previous marriage. Maybe Julia was not born a Styron, but was married to one, which is why we can't connect her to the Styron family. Does anyone have a record of a marriage of a Styron boy to a Julia that could have been her? A Styron boy maybe with a sister named Euphema Styron Ellis? The marriage would have been prior to 1855. Julia lived with her sister, Euphema in 1850 and it may have been sister in law instead of sister. Possibility #2 Julia and Edward Starkey McGowan divorce before he dies in 1863. Julia remarries someone named Hewitt and he either dies or leaves before 1870 leaving her penniless with 4 kids. Since the kids were young and don't remember Edward Starkey, they consider themselves Hewitts. Possibility #3 Julia and Edward Starkey McGowan are happily married until his death in 1863. She doesn't know that she can collect a pension and never files. In 1870, she is mentally or physically ill and having trouble supporting her children. She gets well and then marries someone Hewitt. He either adopts the children or insists that they use his name. Does anyone have know if there is a marriage of Julia Styron or McGowan to a Hewitt in or after 1870 until 1880? Maybe the 1880 census shows a Hewitt with a Julia living with him. (Provided she was still alive at this point.) Possibility #4 (I don't know when Julia died) In 1870, Julia is sick and dies leaving the children orphans. Mr. Hewitt, takes them in and raises them as his own, insisting that they use his name. Hewitt could be a grandfather, uncle, or friend. He doesn't like the name Agnes and insists she go by Allis. After the marriage and the 1880 census, all account show her name to be Agnes Caroline McGowan, daughter of Edward Starkey McGowan. As you can see, there are many possibilities as to why the children were referred to as Hewitt in 1880. We feel that if we find out why, we will find the answer to the question of what happened to Julia Styron. And possibly, where she came from. If anyone has a record of the residents of the Styron Cemetery by Camp Perry, could you please see if Julia is one of them and what information may be on her headstone that may help us. Any other information you can give us on Julia would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!!! Judy ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com.