I find no Balsom in Texas after 1850 when searching the online database I use. I did a soundex search and it produced the same results. I checked BALSON for Texas -- nothing remotely like it. Soundex for Texas with England as birthplace -- nothing at all. BALSON (exact) in entire US with England as birthplace James BALSON in Malden, Middlesex Co, MA age 49. John BALSON A Soundex search didn't show anything that is readily recognizable (like Balsam or Balsum). Maybe someone with the indexed 1880 Census CD can find him. Sorry I couldn't. Anne