In a message dated 5/5/2007 2:59:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, howards@infionline.net writes: Listers, Here's another puzzle that maybe a few of you can help solve: There is a Bucks County, PA Orphans Court File [#2757], dated Sept. 1, 1819, which mentions Joseph VANDEGRIFT as deceased and lists his children as: "Hannah, Emily, John, Benjamin, and "Beans". My questions are: Who was the mother of these children? What was the real name of the child named "Beans"? and What was "Beans' " date of birth? Any help on this mystery would be greatly appreciated. Howard Howard Speck howards@infionline.net EarthLink Revolves Around You. -------- Sometimes the male head of the household, fathered children to a female servant or slave and they were kept with the family as children of their own if the mother of the "Beans" child passed away, or was sold? the slave-owner kept the offspring. Remember, this was 1819. Nelson ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.