Ditto on the Virginia frustration! My Rev. Samuel West of Clermont County was born in Virginia, according to the 1850 census. However, other places mention that he came from Pennsylvania, and he was associated with Methodists from Maryland. He was born around 1779, apparently spent some time in Marietta, Ohio, before coming down the river to the Cincinnati area after 1800. In 1809, he stayed with Philip Gatch until Bishop Asbury arrived and gave him his assignment as a Methodist Circuit Rider. He owned property in Olive Branch, Union Township. After retiring as a circuit rider in 1824, he preached locally and became a land speculator, traveling the west. He outlived three wives; Rebecca Strong, widow of Richard Allison, who he met in Cincinnati, Lucinda Porter Ludlow, and then Elizabeth Gatch Williams. And of course, he has an extremely common name, so I find Samuel Wests in all the possible places. A real rolling stone! Lots of clues, but nothing to pin him down. Any suggestions out there? Amy Schneider