This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, Wittenmoyer, Aurand Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VJIBAEB/15108.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Jim, I'm always happy to return a favor when I can. In the 1850 census, Noah Smith, age 15 [close enough for genealogy, I can assure you!] lived in a household headed by George Smith, age 58, a laborer, and his wife, Mary, age 49, both natives of PA. Others in the family were another George, age 16; Noah; Hiram, age 10; William, age 7; and Simon, 6. Next door was the family of Simon Wittenmoyer, age 36, a carpenter; Sophia, age 26; Susanna, age 8; Savilla I, age 6; Mary E., age 4; and Sarah A, age 2. Census Place: Derry, Mifflin, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_797; Page: 286; Image: 228. That out of the way, do you happen to have dates for Charles Smith? Do you know if he was married before he married Tillie Aurand (who, for the record, was my great grandmother)? (Also for the record: She was born Matilda Scott Brindel on 19 Sep 1874 and d. 19 Jul 1958. She was married to Harry Grant Aurand 30 Nov 1893 and bore him 5 children, 4 of whom lived to adulthood. Harry died suddenly 16 Dec 1910 at age 36.) BTW, Grant may seem like an uncommon name to us, but in the 1800s people often named their children after national heroes. I've got a couple of Andrew Jacksons in my lines, as well as a few George Washingtons. So, for children born after the Civil War, Grant was not that uncommon. Cheers, Richard