Hello all, I'm new to the list. My husband Trace and I are researching his paternal ancestry and have been very successful springboarding from his grandfather Theodore Harrison Pierson's birth certificate to a revolutionary soldier b. in 1761 in NJ. However, we know virtually nothing of his grandfather due to the following family legend: When Trace's father James was between 5 and 8, his father Teddy was involved in a fight. The man died of a heart attack, but Teddy was sent to prison in Walla Walla for a 10 year manslaughter sentence. James was the youngest of the 3 children, but all were sent to separate foster homes. The family story doesn't explain why they couldn't stay with their mother Evelyn Barnes (of Cowlitz Indian descent). Known facts: The alleged crime would have occurred between 1944 and 1947/8 in Pierce Co. Washington. (Probably in the Gig Harbor or Longbranch area) Walla Walla Prison verified that Theodore Harrison Pierson was incarcerated at Walla Walla 1/25/51 to 5/16/52 for non support. His DOC # 023158. He was released from final parole in March 1957, though he could have remained on parole until March 1971. They could not verify if he had served any time for manslaughter, but implied that he had served time previous to the non-support sentence. Teddy Pierson died in 1965 and Evelyn Pierson died in 1966. Both are buried in the New Tacoma Cemetery. Both were allegedly alcoholics. Husband and wife reunited after his release, but no reunion with the children occurred. We've just discovered through the 1920 Pierce Co. Census that Teddy had siblings. In Jan. 1920 Jennie M. Pierson (Teddy's mother) is living in the Longbranch region of Pierce Co. with her children Teddy age 17 a logger, Pearl age 12, Ellsworth age 9, Charles age 5 and Robert age 3 7/12. The eldest 3 are born in OK and the youngest 2 in WA. Their father Alonzo Pierson is not listed, so probably died bet. 1916 and 1920 in WA. We've scanned Tacoma Tribune newspapers, but were unable to find any article about the manslaughter. However, without an index, we easily could have missed an article. Can anyone give advice on how to obtain court proceedings, records of charges filed, trials, sentences, parole records.... Anything to this effect. We are not sure if a crime other than non-support even occurred. Was there a more local paper than Tacoma's that may have covered events in the Gig Harbor/Longbranch area in the 1940's? Does anyone know what became of Pearl, Ellsworth, Charles or Robert Pierson? The youngest would be 81 or so, but any could still be alive. I've not found any SSDI records matching any of them, but that doesn't mean much - Teddy isn't listed either, but he is known to be dead. I'd also like to find when and where Alonzo Pierson is buried. Thank you so much for any helpful suggestions you all may have. Although we both grew up in Puget Sound, we now live in Chicago, so advise on weeding through the court system especially would be appreciated! Leslie Pierson Leslie.c.pierson@boeing.com <mailto:Leslie.c.pierson@boeing.com>