John, Thanks so very much for the clarification regarding the state census of PA. This has been a real area of question for me for several years, and your explanation has, for the moment shed some light on a rather sketchy area in my family search. Your comments about the death index for 1852-54 were of particular interest. According to the "Ancestry Red Book" <<"Pennsylvania took not state censuses, but an enumeration of taxpayers compiled every seven years from 1779 throught 1863...>> Marybeth C. ACMBJC@AOL.com THOMSON GEER CARSON BARKLEY RICE GRIFFIN KELLY DOLAN BRUCK STANIEK WILMOT MUELLER ANDRUS--Western PA (Allegheny, Armstron, Westmoreland Cos.) and Carlisle, PA