Henry's parents are still in hiding unfortunately. Family lore has it that our heritage is German, however there is nothing I've found so far that would cement that as fact. A recent slog through census records has put that idea even more in doubt, though again it is all pure speculation. Rachel is not shown as being with the family in the 1850 census for Monday Creek, though she does appear in every census after that as a daughter to Henry & Susanna. I do find a Rachel Black, 13, (the right age) in the census for Rushcreek Twp, Fairfield Co living with Robert, 30, b OH Margaret, 60, b PA Daniel T, 19, b OH Martha, 20 b OH...(all 4 show they have real estate valued from $3000--Robert to $200 for the other 3) Then Rachel, 13, b OH Margaret Black, 81, b Ireland One dwelling before them is William Black, 29, b OH (real estate valued at $600) Elizabeth, 30, b OH John, 2, b OH The 1880 Census for this William indicates his mother was born in PA, his Father in Ireland. The fact that Robert, Daniel and Martha have property in their name and that Margaret (who I would assume to be their widowed mother) also has property in her name seems to indicate that they inherited said property. It is possible/likely that William, found "next door" could also be a son of the deceased and being younger than Robert received a smaller inheritance. It seems obvious that the elder Margaret Black must have been the mother of the deceased Black, husband of the younger Margaret and would not have reason to be left any part of an estate. That Rachel has no real estate in her name could mean that the father died prior to or shortly after her birth, or that she was not a direct family member. I have not found any records to date of a Rachel being associated with this family at any other time. All that to say--I haven't a clue as to who Henry's parents were, but I'm still digging and hoping. ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 10:51 PM Subject: Re: [OHPERRY] Mary Jane Black b 1853 d 1854 daughter of HenryBlack-Susanna C... Hello I have copied your information and I do see the marriage of Henry Black and Susanna Cary in the Perry Co. marriage records, #163. Do you know who Henry's parents were? My Peter Black b. 7 July 1772 (France/Spain?) m. Charlotte Boyd.....supposedly in 19 November1798 (no proof) they came first to Fairfield Co., abt. 1803 (sold property in Fairfield Co. 1813) and a few years later moved to Perry Co. (1816 bought property) ch: Benoni b. 7 August 1800 MD Keziah b. 16 Feb. 1803 Mary 10 May 1805 Wm. B. 7 Mar. 1807 Demosthenes 20 June 1809 Allen 20 Aug. 1811 Charlotta 6 Aug. 1813 Charles 15 Nov. 1815 Drucilla 27 Feb. 1818 Israel 24 Feb. 1820 What I have on early Perry Co. Blacks: Wm. b. 1760-70 (1761?) Wm. Jr. b. 1780-90 (foreign born)...in the 1860 census there is a Wm. b. 1886 Ireland James b. 1780-90 Samuel (2 m. over 45 foreign born, b. pre 1775) only in 1820 census In the records of Bethel Cem, Rushcreek Twp., Fairfield Co. (borders Perry Co.) Wm. d. 14 Feb. 1844 83y. (1761) w. Mary Samuel d. 23 April 1840 (1783) w. Mary Ann Wm. Jr. b. in Co. Antrim, Ire. 1788 d. 9 June 1866 Joanne S.F., CA