In looking for ancestors of your people with (preferably) an uncommon name, this finding aid at many LDS family history centers may be of some use to you. We all have to be detectives, and, as we know, there are plenty of unsolved crimes in this country. Same with genealogy. Most LDS Family History Centers (check your phone book for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to see if one is near you--or check the website: www.familysearch.org) have on hundreds of microfiche what is called AIS (Accelerated Indexing System). Please know that the error rate is high, but if you find your folks, then you are home clear. This is a consolidated US census index through the 1850 census for the WHOLE US (as it was comprised in each census year--we kept growing, you remember!) There are a few later census indexes for some Western states and territories (such as Nevada). There should be a four-page free printout at your local LDS center to explain the uses of the AIS and perhaps there is an accompanying notebook at the center explaining the various searches in AIS and what is contained in each Search. Search 1 is the earliest US census, but in most cases, the names and info are taken from early tax lists, as much, if not all, the 1790 census was destroyed. On each search is the surname (alphabetical) and then first names. There will be a locality (mostly county and state), and a year of the tax list or census. A good way to use this AIS is to begin with the search year you KNOW your person appears in the census--say 1840. Check to see if he appears (few females, sorry about that). If he doesn't, don't fret too much (that will be one of those errors I was mentioning). There will be duplications of names, and you will think you are going crazy. But you're not (and don't rush to your eye doctor)! Then go to the earlier searches and see if you can find persons with similar surnames. This MAY not work with those who have common-named ancestors (and, boy, do I have those!) But if your surname is uncommon, you MAY be able to pick up a migration pattern--moving back in time may show they came from the East Coast (say Pennsylvania to Ohio). Play with the AIS (if it's available to you) and then, if you have success, tell your friends about it. You will learn to use it by using it and asking questions or reading some more about how to use AIS. Another useful tool MAY also be at your local LDS center (but don't count on it). It is called PERSI. This is a periodical index (genealogical periodicals) compiled by the Allen County Public Library of Fort Wayne, Indiana. I personally have NOT used the microfiche version or the book version. I have a CD-ROM (and I do not do look-ups--emphasize--I do NOT do lookups!)--which was quite expensive and which I bought several years back from Ancestry.com. There is a new version each year (but you don't need to buy each version unless you have lots of money to play around with.) With PERSI, one can look up a locality (say a county or a state), a surname, a subject, etc. On the CD up will come a list of several periodical articles concerning that place, that surname, or that subject. Perhaps your folks were in a certain county in North Carolina in 1755. You may want to see what PERSI has listed for that county. There may be a published tax list, or a militia list, or anything that pertains to that county. You may order (for a fee) that article from Allen Co. Public Library (in Fort Wayne, Indiana). Persons who have done this have reported to me that they got a reprint (photocopy) of the article within a rather short time--two weeks. You may be able to find a research guide (you may have to pay) at LDS for PERSI. As you must know by now, one has to constantly study techniques in genealogy. Too bad if you hated to study in school. The sharper your research skills, the more successful you will be in genealogy. And, for heavens' sake, be patient!! And read genealogical journals which have book reviews--you will learn about new publications and CD-ROMs all the time!!! E.W.Wallace