One more item regarding Pamela Geisler Smith's post regarding John SMITH: Note: Lydia [Holman]'s children by #1 marriage to Thomas Henry Ratledge: .......2 Emily Ratledge - b. 1829 d. 1878 m. Noah Gaither Emily and Noah's marriage bond is dated 1 Sep 1846, Davie County. I believe Emily didn't die until about 1890. From Jo White Linn's abstracts of Davie County wills, Davie Co. will book II:108, Emily Gaither, 17 Dec. 1889, prb. 3 June 1890. The will names the following children: Thomas H. Gaither, whereabouts unknown Martha Elizabeth, wife of Alvin Dyson Zachariah Taylor Gaither Francis Marion Gaither Mary, wife of Wesley Richardson Sarah Lydia, wife of Milton Ellis. Emily Gaither is head of household in 1860 and 1870, listed in 1860 as a "farmerist" and in 1870 as "farmer/housekeeper". But Sarah Lydia wasn't born until after the 1860 census was taken, maybe not until as late as 1863 since she is listed as age 7 in 1870. She is listed as age 27 at her marriage to Milton Ellis on January 3, 1888. There is an even younger child in Emily's 1870 household, Susey C. Gaither, age 3. Noah does not appear in either of these listings. Where was he? And if he was deceased, who is the father of these children? Elizabeth Harris state coordinator, NCGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncgenweb/