Searching around for suggestions from you: I have a brickball (surprise!).  My maternal great-grandfather's paternal grandfather has a beautiful obit, a lovely little marriage bond listing (John Ball listed as surety), clearly written Interment card but no parents listed anywhere. To make matters more difficult his name is similar to another in Norfolk in the same timeframe - he is Joshua David, the other is Joshua Davis both surname REED no discernible connection.  I have located him, a hatter, in the 1850 Census (last name spelled Read) with wife MaryAnn, mother-in-law Elizabeth Balls (b 1796), another Jas R Crumpler age 19 and children Laura A (age 7), Lloyd T (age 6), Pauline A (4) and Florence (2); in 1870 he is age 49 with wife Mary, age 45, children: Laura, Kate, Alma, Horace, and Pacid (1870 Census, page 62, 1st ward, City of Norfolk). Laura was 24 in the 1870 census and what is odd in the value of real estate it shows amounts for all the children.  No other family shows any amounts in that column for the children; in 1880 Census they are with children, Placid (18) and Horace (22), my great-great grandfather, his son Lloyd Thomas Reed having already left the home and married (and living nearby).  Placid later married Siefert.  I don't know that Horace ever married.  They are all buried in Elmwood, Norfolk.  What suggestions might you have where I might find some more info?  Is there a Will listing that (I know I'm dreaming) that might be indexed, say for his father with his name there.  I have seriously researched this fellow for more years than I care to say.  Would anyone have any idea where I might go to make some connection, find some parents, etc? I have it suggested to search for deed transactions and church records although I am a bit stumped on those two (esp deeds). Katie