Hello Fellow Researchers, I have a question that I would like your opinion on. My Great Grandfather was Frank Pierce Smith b. 1857 he was married to 1) Eliza Jane Overholt and 2) Alice Victoria Correll. His father was Thomas Smith b. abt 1870 and his mother was Margaret (Mary) Cluck. They are both listed on Frank's death certificate. Thomas L. Smith and his family appear on the 1860 Cocke County, TN census. On the 1850 Cocke County census, Thomas L. Smith is listed as living in the household of Rev. Tommie Smith (the famous preacher who owned a mill and preached a surmon on his 100th birthday - he lived in Parrotsville). The Rev. Thomas had other children: Lydia, John, Mary, James, Sarah, and Thomas B. I don't believe that he is the father of Thomas L. because he would have been about 61 and his wife 59 when Thomas L. was born. John Smith is listed on the 1850 census as (Little) John with his wife, Sarah 43, Thomas 19, Dorcus 16, George 14, Francis 12, Lydia 10, Crockett 8, John 6 and James 2. Here is my theory: My Thomas L. Smith is the son of "Little" John Smith and the grandson of the Rev. Tommie. I believe he may have been living with his grandfather when the census takers came around in 1850. I also think that he was included in the household of "Little" John in error. His family may have just included him with the other children. In 1850 the census was to begin June 1, 1850 and there were 5 months allowed to complete the census. Another source (Nancy Wood) adds that although census information was asked and written down between July and September of the census year, BUT it was asked as if the information were taken on January 1 of that year. Example, on July 7, 1850 a census taker would ask the household who had been the head of the household, etc. as of or on January 1, 1850. So, maybe "Little John" included his son as living with him as of January 1, 1850 - but by the time the census takers came around he was living with his grandfather. Is this theory too far fetched? I would like to hear your opinion. If ANYONE is researching this family, I would LOVE to hear from you! Thanks to all for your help! Julie (Smith) Walters [email protected]