In a message dated 8/24/00 10:32:48 PM, [email protected] writes: << Since the record says Rector was an orphan, I'm assuming it is from 1852 or before. (If it were later, Rector would not be an orphan, but simply an adult whose parents had died). And since both parents must be dead (since he's an orphan), I think it is significant that only the mother is named. If his father were known, seems like he would have been mentioned in addition to, or instead of, the mother. >> In those days, a child was considered an orphan if his/her father was dead, even though the mother was still living. For instance, many organizations and schools were formed to provide for children who were "orphaned" by the Civil War -- the children were fatherless but not necessarily motherless. The will of Stephen Girard, financier, of Philadelphia, PA, established Girard College for orphan boys (the will was challenged a few decades ago to also include orphan girls) -- a requirement for admission was (and remains) that the child be fatherless (many still had mothers caring for them). Lani