I am looking for additional information about a man named JOHN MENDERS who changed his family name to Rascoe or Roscoe between 1900 and 1910. Need proof of who his biological parents were. John Menders was born about 1860 to 1866 in South Carolina as were his parents according to the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses. He first appears in the 1880 census of Marlboro County S.C., Smithville Township, in the household of William K. Sweatt as follows: William K. Sweatt Head w.m. 68 married Farmer S.C. S.C. S.C. Mary Ann Sweatt wife w.f. 40 married K.H. S.C. S.C. S.C. Martin L. Sweatt son w.m 07 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. William L. Sweatt son w.m. 05 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. Eddie F. Sweatt son w.m. 04 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. Adgenora Sweatt daug, w.f. 03 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. Tolank K. Sweatt son w.m. 01 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. John Mender other w.m. 14 single farm Laborer S.C. S.C. S.C. The 1900 census of Marlboro County, E.D. # 89, sheet 15, Brightsville Twp. finds John Menders, his wife, and their children in their own household as follows: John Menders head w.m. 40 married Farmer S.C. S.C. S.C. Pinta Menders wife w.f. 35 married K.H. S.C. S.C. S.C. Bettie Menders daug. w.f. 12 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. Perlie Menders son w.m. 10 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. Elisha Menders son w.m. 08 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. Redmond Menders son w.m. 06 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. Walter Menders son w.m. 02 single at home S.C. S.C. S.C. The 1910 census of Marlboro County, Smithville Twp. E.D. 89, sheet 4, list this same family only this time they are using the sur-name Roscoe and the wife's given name Martha note the names of the children in both these censuses: John Roscoe Head w.m. 50 md.1 24yrs Farm SC SC SC Martha Roscoe wife w.f. 48 md.1 24yrs. 10 c, 8 liv. KH SC SC SC Bettie Roscoe daug. w.f. 23 wid. 1 c, 1 liv. SC SC SC Perlie Roscoe son w.m. 22 single Redmond Roscoe son w.m. 17 single Walter Roscoe son. w.m. 13 single Hellie Roscoe daug. w.f. 07 single Lula May Roscoe G.D. w.f. 02 single Notes: Elisha has moved out of the household. Hellie is a new child and Lula May is obviously the child of Bettie. The 1920 census of Marlboro County, E.D. 120, sheet 11, finds the family as follows: John Rascoe head w.m. 65 Martha Rascoe wife w.f. 65 Johnie Rascoe son w.m. 10 Willie Rascoe son w.m. 10 Lolla May Rascoe daug. w.f. 14 Notes: Johnie and Willie are two new sons. Lola May is now listed as a daughter rather then a grand daughter. The other children have moved out of the household. The son Elisha (Elias) Rascoe is in his own household in Marlboro County, Brightsville Twp., E.D. 120, sheet 10, with wife Mamie (Knight), sons Julian, Brady, and Lee Rascoe. He will go on to have sons Foster, Oscar, Richard, and daughter Mary and Martha. The son Perlie is also in his own household in Marlboro County, E.D. 115, sheet 17, with wife Eula and daughtes, Frances and Margaret. Perlie will later move to North Carolina and died in Fayetteville 29 June 1968. The sonWalter will marry Nora Catherine Thompson and he will died and be buried in Marlboro County October 16, 1941. The daughter Bettie may have married William Grant. No futher information is known about any of the other children. Other Roscoe families that live in the same area of Marlboro County, some in Chesterfield County and other in the Hamlet, N.C. area say that they are not related to this John Roscoe family. They refer to them as "The Menders Bunch". The story told by the Roscoe family is that when John Menders was grown, he applied for a job at a local mill as a miller. The man who ran the mill ask him what his qualification were and where he had learn the trade. John Menders told him that his name was John Roscoe and that he was a son of Washingtn Roscoe, reputed to be the best miller in the area. John was given the job and proved capable. Washington Roscoe heard about this and confronted John who admitted that he had lied about being Washington's son in order to get the job. However he told Washington Roscoe that he was an illigitimate son of Washington Roscoe's brother John Roscoe and that he had been raised by his grandmother, "Bet" Menders. Washington Roscoe believed his story although Washington's brother, John Roscoe, disavowal that he was the father of John Menders. The descendants of John Menders still goes by the name Roscoe to this day and the fact of the matter are still unresolved concerning the parentiage of John Menders. If anyone has any additional information about any of the persons or families I would like to hear from you. Thanks very much. James R. Rasco jrrasco@aol.com