Knowing the vagaries of census takers it is certainly possible that the Atkinson you found in 1870 is the Addison you found in 1880. I agree that you cannot decide based on this alone that he is the one you're looking for. Can you find anything else to tie them together -- such as other family members or notices of marriages or deaths. Also, have you checked other states, such as North Carolina, to see if he was there in 1870? Absent any other leads then I think I would pursue this until it was proven one way or the other. Good luck, James Nicholson [email protected] In a message dated 8/15/2004 1:08:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I am looking for my great grandfather, Henry Addison, in the 1870 census. In 1880, he is living in Kershaw County, South Carolina, with his wife, Francis and their children. In 1880, he is 28 years old, which should put him around 18 years old in the 1870 census. No matter how I search his name, or look at the 1870 census, I cannot find him. I finally did a soundex search on Ancestry and found one person who fit the description. His name is Henry Atkinson, he is 18 years old and he lives in West Blackstock, Chester County, SC. When I look for this same Henry Atkinson in the 1880 census, I find his father, Edward, but I cannot find him. I am not relying on this information to say that he is my great grandfather, but does anyone think this may be a possibility I should explore?