I'd like to take just one census in NC ( it seems to be such a breeding ground for R's) and first, see how many R's we can find and where, and then try to prove who is who. I tried spellings of Ragan Ragans Regan Regans Riggin, Riggins Riggan, Riggans. I am working from the actual handwritten lists on Heritage, not someone's typed list.I am sure I missed a bunch. There was some Rogers listings that looked a lot like Ragans.sigh, bear with me. Most of the counties in the 1800 census were put in alphabetical order. A few were not. Regarding county names. Some researchers use today's names to describe the area of their ancestor's birth. Most use the names in place at the time of birth of the ancestor. I prefer this. However, sometimes the new divisions were ignored by the people involved. It is important to look at the county that your ancestor was born in and see when it was formed and from what. For example, a lot of early Delaware land records were filed in MD well after the drawing of the Mason Dixon line. Folks just ignored those government pests. This exercise began due to a discussion of Nathan Ragan who in the 1850 TN census says he was born in 1803 Person Co, NC. But there is no Person County 1800 census listing for a Ragan family. BUT, Person Co NC was formed from Orange Co, in 1792, and Orange Co has a Ragan and a Rigings. Hmmm. Please check this for errors.I'm on the fly here In 1800 NC census I find: Ashe Co: Eli Ragan 3 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 xxxx ( Ashe Co was formed in 1799 from Anson, Rowan, Surry, and Wilkes.) That makes Eli away from the bulk of R's. Bladen Co:John Riggins 1 x x 2 x 2 x x 2 1 x x Northhampton: Jonathan Riggens 1 x x 1 1 x 2 x 1 x x ( Northhampton came from Bertie in 1741.so did Edgecombe.) Onslow: John Reggins x x x 1 x x x 1 x x x x Orange;Joel Rigings 1 x x 1 x x x 1 x x x Thomas Ragan 1 2 1 x 1 2 1 1 1 x x Person: Nathan Ragin x 2 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 1 x Patsy Ragin 1 1 x x 3 x 1 x x x x Jesse Ragin 1 2 x 1 x 3 2 x 1 x x Marth Ragin 1 x x x x 2 x x 1 x x Pitt: Darby Riggin 1 x x 1 x 1 2 x 1 x x 5 ( Pitt came from Beaufort in 1761) Rowan: Isham Ragan x x x 1 x x x 1 x x James 1 1 2 x 1 x 1 1 x x Wake: David Ragan x x x x 1 x x xx 1 x x James Ragan:1 1 x 1 x 3 x x 1 x x x Joseph Ragan x x x x 1 x 1 x x 1 x x Willis Ragan 3 2 x 1 x 1 x x 1 x x x Wilkes: William Regans 1 x x 1 x 1 x 1 x x x ( Wilkes was created in 1777 from Surry and Washington DC ) Joel Regans x x x 1 1 2 x 1 x 1 x 1 This is the first I have seen of 2 Joels. I know who is in Orange, but who is in Wilkes? Any additions? Corrections? I'd like to talk about who is how and how we can prove or assume that. Maryellen