Hi, Am currently stuck trying to go back before 1880 in my Nashville research - and hope someone on this list has some suggestions. My grandfather, George Shelvy OLIVER was born 07 Jan 1875 in Nashville. His mother was Lou - or Louise WILLIAMS b. May 1856 in Nashville, father John OLIVER no dates known - born TN. The family is African American. There is a John OLIVER in the 1870 census - however he is unmarried at the time so no luck connecting or proving that he is my gr-grandfather. There is no marriage record for Louise & John. There is no John Oliver in Nashville in 1880. No birth records available for 1875 for my grandfather. My grandfather George OLIVER is not in the 1880 census for Davidson County. I know he left Nashville at age 16 and went to KS - I have him in KS agricultural census records and regular census from 1900 though 1930. Louise is not in the 1880 census with a son George - though there is a possibility she may be a woman listed as Lou WILLIAMS with a 1 year old son Ernest. Cannot confirm it. My gr grandmother Louise is married by 1900 to a George EDMONDSON. She is in the census for Nashville with her husband - daughter, and two other sons - Reuben THOMPSON and an Ernest JONES. Reuben I knew of - Ernest Jones I never heard of. Her death certificate names her parents: Frank WILLIAMS and Fannie ONEIL Neither are in Davidson County in 1870, 1880 (or if they are they aren't together) . ONEIL seems to be a fairly rare surname for African Americans in the area during that time period. I don't have, or know of the resourses available for Nashville from 1865 - 1880 like the one's I have for research in Loudoun County VA. Suggestions anyone? Denise http://www.wemba-music.org/ancestor.htm