Betty, A child could be called an orphan when only one parent was deceased, more so when the father was deceased. You said you are working backwards in the court records. When a man died and left a widow, there should be mention in the court records of a years allowance being set off for the widow. If in your case the mother of the "orphan" Abner Pace was still living you should find this record of a years allowance being set off for her. Rick Saunders Salt Lake City, UT