For 20 plus years I have been banging my head against a brick wall to the point I think my Nancy Jane HANSBROW sprang from the earth at age 5 (b. 1845 Wayne Co., IL) with her older brother John age 8 (born 1842 Wayne, Co., IL) in tow. First of all let's look at her surname I have found it as: Hansbro Hansbrow Hansbrough Hansborough Hansbra Hansbraw Hansbrew oh well you get the idea. I've even see original spellings for these lineages as Ansberry, and Hansberry. Which is correct? Who knows. She and big brother John first appear in the 1850 Wayne Co., IL census in the home of S. Boyd (I'll post the census in a bit) in 1860 Jefferson Co., IL census she, alone--no John,( I have not been able to find any record of John anywhere since then) appear in the family of Jehu/John NORMAN, again census in a bit. Over the years she married three times that I know of adding children along the way. 1. George M. BOYKIN b. 1842 Jefferson Co. IL d. bef 1868 s/o William Mills BOYKIN and Mary Ann HOLT (who was previously married to James B. BOND) 2. Elias or Ellis Wigginton b. 1848 IL d. 1868 s/o Nathaniel Wigginton and Mary McLain 3. Seth Ward WEBBER b. 1849 Jefferson Co., IL d. 1920 in Wayne Co., IL s/o Seth Ward Webber and E. Jane Crawford or Samuel Webber (marriage license says Seth, but other paperwork leads some to believe it was actually Samuel) All three of her marriages were in Jefferson Co., IL. Finally about a week ago a light bulb went off in my head. WHY were those two children in first the BOYD family and then the NORMAN family? They were far too young to be servants. Turns out John NORMAN was married to Emily J. Hansbraugh d/o John HANSBROUGH and Sarah M. GRUBBS (the parents were married in Frederick Co., VA). So most likely Nancy Jane HANSBROW is niece, but by who? I can't find a connection. Was maybe one of John's sisters married to a Hansbrow? Or one of Emily's brothers is the father of these children? I have found no connection at all to the BOYD family, which appears to be the family of Solomon BOYD b. 1782 Franklin, VA and his first wife Mahala DALE b. 1805 Hamilton, IL. Solomon later married Melvina HUFFSTUTLER b. abt 1810. This makes me think that perhaps Nancy and John were related to Mahala Dale's family since his marriage took place in 1859 and if the children weren't related to him then it would make perfect sense he would send them to other relatives. So, does anyone have connections between any of these surnames that might help me broaden my search? I would REALLY appreciate any help you can give on this matter. census and other notes: in 1850 in the S. Boyd family as 15 in the M. Boyd. family in the Ill state archives lists as has no family. District 11, Wayne Co., IL 1850 Census pg 203 Boyd, S Male 51 farmer VA M. 35 f VA C. 20 f IL John 18 m farmer IL William 16 m farmer IL M 13 m IL E 10 f IL A 8 m IL Hansbrow, John 8 m IL Nancy J 5 IL two pages over on the census for the same county is a relative most likely: 200/306 Hansbrow, John 70 m farmer VA S (J?) 52 f VA L. 16 f IL Virginia 14 f IL Pressley (?) 10 m IL ------------ 1860 Hickory Hill P.O., Jefferson Co., IL(June 15, 1860) Norman, John 48 m farmer TN Sarah 15 f IL Hansbro, Nancy J. f 15 IL Norman, Nancy 12 f IL Lafayette 10 m IL Jason 8 m IL JP NOTE: on ancestry I found this family and I am certain they are part of Nancy Jane's family. I just have to find the tie in! Jeheu Norman s/o Joseph Lafayette Norman and Hannah Jones Born: 1812 Sumner, Tennesee Died: 26 SEP 1882 Jeferson County, Illinois Spouse Emily J Hansbrough1816 - 1858 Children James Jones Norman1836 - 1896 John Norman1838 - 1933 Mary A Norman1839 Hannah Norman1840 Sarah Norman1844 Nancy Norman1847 Lafayette Norman1850 - 1917 Spouse Caroline1825 No children listed 1850 United States Federal Census about John Norman Name: John Norman Age: 12 Estimated birth year: abt 1838 Birth Place: Illinois Gender: Male Home in 1850 (City,County,State): District 10, Jefferson, Illinois Note the home prior to this is William and Delilah Haney family with Gregory families all around, family 512 in the same area is the Morias Hansbrough b. abt 1796 family from KY as well. John, Jeheu's father is family 299. With my Nancy and her brother John being at family 216 in the Boyd Family. These are all in districts 10 and 11. 599/599 Norman, Jeheu 39 m farmer TN Emily J 34 f VA James 14 m IL John 12 m IL Mary 9 m (?) IL Hannah 8 F IL Sarah 6 F IL Nancy 3 F IL Lafayette 3/12 M IL--Lydia M. Meador was spouse 600/600 Hansbrough, William M. 27 m KY Tabitha 25 f IL Sarah 6 f IL Margaret 2 f IL William 2/12 m IL John Hansbrough Born: 1780 VA, USA Died: 15 MAR 1852 Wayne, IL, USA Spouse Sarah Grubs1797 Children Elizabeth Hansbrough1816 - 1860 Emily J Hansbrough1816 - 1858 John H Hansbrough1829 - 1872 C Hansbrough1834 Virginia Hansbrough1836 Presley Hansbrough1837 From Karen <gtskjs@mvn.net> speaking of the census of 1860: To me, the first name of Mr. Norman looks as much like John as it does > Jehu. > > Don't know if it helps or not but John Norman is reported to have been > born in Sumner Co., TN. John Norman Sr.'s estate was administered by > John Norman Jr. in 1882. John may have been the son of Joseph Norman > who is in that neighborhood in the 1840 census and has an adult male the > age of John in his household. Joseph may be the Joseph Norman who > married Margaret Tomcray March 20, 1798 Washington Co., VA. ----------- 1870 United States Federal Census about Mills A Boyicun Name: Mills A Boyicun Estimated birth year: abt 1863 Age in 1870: 7 Birthplace: Illinois Home in 1870: Township 1 Range 4, Jefferson, Illinois Family and neighbors: View Results Race: White Gender: Male Value of real estate: View image Post Office: Mount Vernon ancestry page 11 1870 Jefferson Co., IL Wiggington, Nancy J. 24 f housekeeping IL Sarah E 2/12 f IL Boyicun, Mills A. 7 m IL Mary E. 4 f IL 1880 Jefferson Co., IL Webber, S. W. 38 m farmer IL TN AL Nancy 35 wife keeps house IL TN MS Mills A 16 son IL IL IL Mary 14 da IL IL IL Dithery 8 da IL IL IL John 4 son IL IL IL Minty A. 1 da IL IL IL Minny 1 da IL IL IL Jan who has such a brick wall headache in OK