It's time for my kinda sorta, semi-regular-when-I-think-about-it post to the TNWILSON list! I have a Bert/Burt T SMITH (full name thought to be Bertrand/Burtram Trammel SMITH), and according to the family bible he was b. April 28, 1835 in/around Lebanon, Wilson County, TN and died March 16, 1908 in/around Lebanon. Family members toss around the name of 'Indian Ladder' as the community from which he came. I have no idea who his parents were or if he had siblings. Unfortunately, I keep hitting dead ends on that! I do know that his marriage license states his name as Bertrand SMITH. He married Sarah Elizabeth 'Betty' FAKES (often used the surname BROWN as her maiden name, though, because her mother had remarried to a BROWN when she was young), b. February 22, 1844, daughter of Albert L FAKES and Sarah B Johnson FAKES. Family bible and census records say she was born in Kentucky but I wonder about that. The 1850 Wilson County, TN census shows a Burtrane SMITH, age 12 or 15 (hard to read but I think it's 12, 3 years younger than my Burt/Bert should be), living in the household of James Hatcher (household #979). I don't know that this is my Bert/Burt but it's the only one in 1850 I've come across so far and I'm inclined to believe it's him. 0 The 1880 Wilson County, TN census Page 10, Supervisor's Dist. No. 3, Enumeration Dist. No. 251, Dwelling 77 shows this, which I know is my Bert/Burt: Smith, Burtram T 45 farmer TN TN Sarah B 36 keeping house KY TN TN Nancy L. 13 (never married) James T. 'Jim' 12 works on farm (born 1868 according to the family bible, in touch with a descendant) Sarah F. 'Sallie' 9 (born 1870, d.1901) William B. 'Billy' 7 (born June 1872 according to the family bible) Laura E. 4 (born 1875, married Roscoe HANKINS, in touch with a descendant) Alexis M. 1 (the name should be Alexon Monroe, b. 1879, di 1963 Missouri) A family member tells me there was another brother named P.S. but I find no mention of P.S. on the 1880 census so he could have been born later. I'm working steadily to find out who Bert/Burt's parents and siblings are and if any of these names ring a bell, I'd love to hear from you! Denise's Random Thoughts: Families are like fudge .. mostly sweet with a few nuts.