This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: mjancestor2 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.virginia.counties.frederick/5895.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: RE: 1900 United States Federal Census Home in 1900: Stonewall, Frederick, Virginia Household Members: Name Age Daniel S Swimley 56 b. Dec 1843, married 25 years This is what the index provided. The census sheet has writing over his name, so who ever transcribed it wrote it as it seemed to look. Looking at the film of the census sheet, and looking for Samuel J., you could deciper the name as Samuel J. instead of Daniel. Since the family members are the same, and the neighbors are the same, it would appear to be the correct family with an error in the transcribed index. When looking for families, you have to be prepared to look at transcription errors (how it looked on the paper), census taker errors (wrote as it sounded, not as it was normally), information giver errors (was it a neighbor that gave info, etc.), illiteracy errors(if they couldn't they couldn't spell their name so a guess was made). Always check referenced resources yourself. Since you weren't looking for Frank's side, I focused on Eva's side. By looking at the census, we found her brother, which helped find her family in the census. Sometimes side relatives and! lines can provide clues. Although I didn't find her birth record - we did find siblings - which can help determine parents. A siblings obit may mention that parents were alive, or other relatives, etc. Mother may go & live with one or more children when her husband dies. If they owned property, there would be a probate (possibly a will), and it may name family members and where they lived. Looking at census neighbors may give you land locations. I found one pre 1700 home by finding the family in detailed land descriptions of a neighbor! If Frank had a store - you might find information on him in city business info. Draft cards can provide locations, next of kin, handwriting samples, places of birth, and physical descriptions. Descendants can get military records - with lots of great info. If mother was living with one son on one draft card, but another in the census - why? I'm not related, I like to provide help or clues if I can using Ancestry memberships and Frederick Co. books I own. My family was there 1740s-1900, so I have some resources from my own searches (mostly pre-1850). Good luck. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.