> My maiden name is Matthews and, after I divorced, I took it back; > so, I find it particularly annoying that I cannot get back the next > generation on them. I have my GGGgrandparents, John Albert > (1803-1855) and his wife, Salina Hosford (1809-1884), but they both > seem to have sprung into Ashland fully grown without parents for all I > can find. Hi Mignon, If these are the right people. . . . According to the 1855 census index, John sprang from Columbia County. He was 51, and had been in Ashland 44 years. Selina, 50, was born in Greene Co., and had been in Ashland for 50 years. Children: Lauren 17, Hannah 13. (Was George Mathew, 21, also in Ashland, married to Martha, child Milo 2, a son?) No Hosfords in Ashland, but I didn't look for wild spellings. Regards, Peggy