I am still trying to sort out the descendents of Captain Benjamin Hatcher, Rev. Sol, and his widow, Lucy_?_ and find the parents of my ancestor, Frances Hatcher b. c. 1842 in the household of Alfred Hatcher on the 1850 and 1860 census of Edgeifeld District, South Carolina. One of their sons, John Hatcher, d. 1825 and his wife, Christian Parker d. 1852. They had about 8-10 children named in his will, among whom were sons, John b. before 1804 and Alfred b. c. 1800 d. 1868. In his will John left his sons, John, Jr. and Alfred a tract of land called the Day Tract. John was to divide and Alfred got the choice. If Alfred died without children his part was to go to John Jr., his brother. Edgefield Equity case #1000 was brought by a John Hatcher against Rice and Susan Swearingen claiming that Rice and Susan Swearingen are occupying Alfred Hatcher's land to which he is entitled. John Hatcher claims that Alfred Hatcher died without child or children about 1868 and Rice and Susan Swearingen are refusing to give possession of the land. So if Alfred Hatcher died without children, who are all of these people living with him in the 1850 and 1860 Edgefield census and who are the parents of my ancestor Frances Hatcher b. c. 1842??? Was she a Hatcher or something else??? So where was Rice Swearingen in 1850 and 1860 and where is this John Hatcher on the census in 1850, 1860, and 1870??? He would have been somewhere around 70 years old. He was not named a minor in his father's will of 1825, meaning he was born before c. 1804 to be over 21 in 1825. By 1870 the Frances b. c. 1842 who was my ancestor had married James Whitlock and was deceased by 1880. She is supposed to be buried with a marker in the Graniteville Cemetery, but marker has no dates. Was John Hatcher b. c. 1840 in the household her brother? Alfred Hatcher is suppose to have married Frances Swearingen. Dates from two sources differ. One from Carlee MeClendon's Edgefield marriage book give 1820. Another reference give 1840-1841, church minutes. Did Rice Swearingen married the widow (Susan ? Hatcher) of Alfred Hatcher between c. 1868=1870??? In the 1860 census the 1 year old listed as Frances kirkland is actually suppose to be the daughter of Frances age 18. She had another daughter shortly there after, father of tow girls is unknown. Their births are listed in the Whitlock Bible. One married Fulmer and one married Thompson. My Ancestor, Emma Frances Whitlock was b. 1865. She supposedly only had two whole sisters. 1850 CENSUS EDGEFIELD DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA. House #1593/1593 Hatcher, Alfred 50 M W value of Real Estate $2,000 Farmer Susan 36 F W John 10 M W Frances E. 8 F W Kirkland, Lucy 20 F W Eliza 3 F W Benj. 1 M W Edward 14 M W 1860 CENSUS EDGEFIELD DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA. Printed page 27, Graniteville P. O., June 20, 1860, House #205/202 Alfred Hatcher 60 M Farmer b. SC Susan 46 F b. SC Lucy Kirkland 30 F Domestic b. SC Jno Hatcher 20 M Farming b. SC Frances 18 M b. SC Laura Kirkland 12 F b. SC Benj " 10 M b. SC Frances " 1 F b. SC 1870 census Edgefield County, South Carolina. Page 428-B, Shaw's Creek Township, Aiken P. O. July 8 1870, House 72/73 Swearingen, Rice 57 M W Farmer $550/$250 Farming , Susan C 67 F W Keeping house Kirkland, Laura 22 F W not occupied Barton, Amy 20 F W not occupied , David 13 M W farm labour All suggestions appreciated. Does anyone recognize any of these people. I have ordered a full set of Equity court records for Hatcher from the archives in Columbia. Vivian Cates, Rt.#2 Box 52-A, Alto, Texas 75925-9607 1-936-858-3801 http://www.inu.net/vcates