Because most Pennsylvania counties were carved out of other counties or were formed by taking pieces of several other counties, census records and especially church records naming these people may be found in different counties. Also, in the case of church records, families often attended churches across the county line ... In my case, I've found my ancestors in church records across county lines from where they were living .... especially if they lived next to the county line. I have many Friess ancestors who lived in Berks County, but their names are found in church records over in Lehigh County, and in some cases, in Lancaster, York and Union County.... and vice versa. They were Lutheran, but in many cases, their names are found in Lutheran Churches that were several "churches" away from the Lutheran Church nearest their home. Don't know for sure why that is, but it's quite an interesting phenomenon. I believe one reason is that back in the mid 1700s to the early 1800s there were many travelling ministers who would sometimes perform a ceremony and then record it in their "home" church records or personal records, even though it occured elsewhere. Also, they had family members in nearby areas, and would likely attend the church nearest that family member. The main thing that has been most productive is to look at records of counties surrounding the county where you have placed your ancestors... this is, again, because your "home" county was likely formed from a nearby county or counties. Also, an adjoining county may have been carved out of your "home" county... Again, a personal example... some of my Berks County ancestoral records are found in Philadelphia because Berks was once part of the area that included what is now Philadelphia, so some vital and estate records are in Philadelphia while the ancestor lived in what later became Berks County. Ray Friess [email protected] wrote: >Susan, >You might try looking for your Nathan Smith in Bucks County census or >other adjacent counties. My Idles are listed in Bucks County 1790 >census, but I find their church records in Montgomery County. >Just a thought. > >I've been trying to find a John Henry Smith because the name keeps >cropping up in succeeding generations. His (I assume) daughter, >Elizabeth, married into my Kellar family. She had a brother of same name >and named a son after him. Anyone got a John Henry? >Betty T. > > >==== PAMONTGO Mailing List ==== >Surnames always in capital letters. > > > >