Happy New Year, everyone. To start 1998 off right, I'm still looking for any clues to my Mary Ann PILES, m. Jacob SWISHER 1833 in Vermilion Co., IL. Both Mary Ann ("Polly") and her mother Mary (maiden name unknown) b. in KY according to census data. The elder Mary was widowed by 1832 and remarried to a James RUCKMAN, who was originally from NY. Her first husband may have been Edward, also b. KY, who shows in 1830 Vermilion Co. census with an appropriate household. Later censuses show Mary and James RUCKMAN with a lot of PILES living with and near them, most b. KY. Mary Ann was born c. 1815 in KY, so her mother was probably born. c. 1795, give or take a few years, and married prior to 1815. So far, not a clue as to what KY Piles family Mary Ann's father came from. I see from the archives and some recent posts that some KY PILES families are pretty well documented. If you can even help me rule out any groups, it would narrow down the field. Family legend: Mary PILES operated a ferry in either OHIO, KY or IL after her husband's death, with the help of former slaves who remained with the family. Happy 1998 to all, Dixie Jordan Rusty6356@aol.com