Does anyone know what the parentheses around the state's initials mean on a federal census form? In the 1880 Scioto County, Ohio census, for example, my gg grandfather John A. Custer was listed as being born in W.Va. in 1845 (actually Va. at that date, I know) and both his parents are listed as W.Va., but in parentheses. Did this mean the person giving the information didn't know for certain? I'm pretty certain his parents were born in Maryland, anyway, and some other records agree with that. Just wondered what the parentheses meant. Any ideas? -- Regards, Michael A. Radcliff mradclif@marshall.edu