this week in the Valley Banner on-line there is an article on the purchase of the Pence Farm site of the Crosskeys Civil War Battle. go to www.valleybanner.com then click on the link bottom right to reach article other old family names mentioned site will wipe out on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and be replaced by next editon of the weekly Elkton Valley Banner Dick Bloss __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/

given that John Hess married Mary Blose/Bloss (spelled both ways) and she lived on Naked Creek I like the between ELkton and Verbena the Bloss/Blose homestead is one mile east of Verbena on south side of Naked Creek Dick Bloss __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/

"Dry Fork" is in the area where my ancestors were after 1850--west of Smith's (Smith) Creek running parallel to U.S. Route 11/Interstate 81. Richard Bloss wrote: > have found a deed recording which says John Hess sold > his farm property on Dry Run in 1852. In 1850 he was > listed in census 56-1/2. Don't have the map handly > but that should pin point one spot in 56-1/2 > > can some one get back on where Dry Run is today > > Thanks > > Dick Bloss > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! > http://calendar.yahoo.com/

have found a deed recording which says John Hess sold his farm property on Dry Run in 1852. In 1850 he was listed in census 56-1/2. Don't have the map handly but that should pin point one spot in 56-1/2 can some one get back on where Dry Run is today Thanks Dick Bloss __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/

Anyone familiar with William and Elizabeth Crawford Lam? Parents of Isaac D. Lam/John Lam, M.H. Lam, James Lam. And decendants? I believe they were all in the county in the 1850's. Isaac move to Rockbridge before the war. I think there were some other children, but not sure of their names. Thanks, Phyllis

go to www.valleybanner.com then click on bottom right coner for link to Valley Banner obits this week Samuel Patrick Hammer b 2-6-1946 Melvin Elmo (Pete) Printz b 10-4-1918 Hazel Thompson Hensley b 6-12-1928 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/

Could someone look up this family for me in 1880 Census. Thank you, JH 1870 Census, Rockingham Co., Virginia; Brocks Gap TWP; P. O. Herrodsburg Pg 34B 15 Aug 1870 49-49 Myers, Henry 44 M Farmer 1000 400 VA *** MOYERS*** , Susan 44 F Keep house VA , Jesse 22 M Works on farm VA , Sarah 19 F Without occupation VA Hallerman, Elizabeth 60 F Domestic Servant VA ( Elizabeth Fitzwater Halterman) , Joseph 12 M At Home VA

Jim, Thanks for your analysis. You've put together far more facts to support a conclusion than I have to date. As I respnded to Richard Bloss, my 56 1/2 District family members were--in the 1860-1880 period--primarily in the Smith's Creek area, which is west of the Massanutten and north of Port Republic and the SE section of the county. But pre-1850 information has them closer to McGaheysville. Bill Derrow ***************************** "Joseph J. Messersmith, Jr." wrote: > Several people have expressed interest in trying to determine where in > Rockingham County their ancestors lived in 1850. While I will not be able > to answer that question for anyone, here are some details on the 1850 census. > > The census was taken in three groups or districts. > > The first portion of the census takes up pages 1B - 46B (page 1A was left > blank). The dwelling and family numbering scheme started with 1 and > continued to 607/610. The assistant marshal who conducted the census was > Tyre Maupin. It should be noted that the blank labelled "Free inhabitants > in" was labelled "Town of Harrisonburg" on pages 1B - 9B, and was left > blank on pages 10A - 46B. > > The second portion of the census takes up pages 47A - 172B, and is labelled > "56th District." The house and family numbering scheme was started at 1 on > page 47A and continued to 2418/2423 on page 172B. Tyre Maupin was also the > assistant marshal for this portion of the census. > > Mr. Maupin started the first part in Harrisonburg on July 13, and concluded > the second part on December 15. > > The third and last portion of the census starts on page 173A and continue > through page 216A. Again the dwelling and family numbering scheme was > started at 1 on page 173A and continued to 628/641 on the last page. The > assistant marshal was Thomas A. Gilmer. He started on October 15 and > finished on November 30. > > The total number of dwellings was 3653, with 17% being in the first group, > 66% being in the 56th district, and the remaining 17% being in the 56-1/2 > district. > > Since Mr. Maupin started on July 15 and didn't conclude until mid December, > and since Mr. Gilmer did not start until mid October, it is my guess that > originally Mr. Maupin intended to do the entire county. By October it > became apparent that he could not finish by the end of the year and Mr. > Gilmer was retained to do a small part of the of the county. > > Based on my knowledge of where some families lived in the county (most of > whom were in the 56-1/2 district), it appears the census in the 56-1/2 > district ended in the Port Republic area, and the district was comprised of > the SE corner of the county. Exactly how far it extended to the NW toward > WV, and to the NE along the Blue Ridge Mountain toward Page County, is hard > to say. Based on names I saw while looking though the census, I believe it > included the McGaheysville, Pineville and Goods Mill areas, and may have > extended to the NE to almost the Cross Keys area. > > Jim Messersmith > Rockville, VA

Several people have expressed interest in trying to determine where in Rockingham County their ancestors lived in 1850. While I will not be able to answer that question for anyone, here are some details on the 1850 census. The census was taken in three groups or districts. The first portion of the census takes up pages 1B - 46B (page 1A was left blank). The dwelling and family numbering scheme started with 1 and continued to 607/610. The assistant marshal who conducted the census was Tyre Maupin. It should be noted that the blank labelled "Free inhabitants in" was labelled "Town of Harrisonburg" on pages 1B - 9B, and was left blank on pages 10A - 46B. The second portion of the census takes up pages 47A - 172B, and is labelled "56th District." The house and family numbering scheme was started at 1 on page 47A and continued to 2418/2423 on page 172B. Tyre Maupin was also the assistant marshal for this portion of the census. Mr. Maupin started the first part in Harrisonburg on July 13, and concluded the second part on December 15. The third and last portion of the census starts on page 173A and continue through page 216A. Again the dwelling and family numbering scheme was started at 1 on page 173A and continued to 628/641 on the last page. The assistant marshal was Thomas A. Gilmer. He started on October 15 and finished on November 30. The total number of dwellings was 3653, with 17% being in the first group, 66% being in the 56th district, and the remaining 17% being in the 56-1/2 district. Since Mr. Maupin started on July 15 and didn't conclude until mid December, and since Mr. Gilmer did not start until mid October, it is my guess that originally Mr. Maupin intended to do the entire county. By October it became apparent that he could not finish by the end of the year and Mr. Gilmer was retained to do a small part of the of the county. Based on my knowledge of where some families lived in the county (most of whom were in the 56-1/2 district), it appears the census in the 56-1/2 district ended in the Port Republic area, and the district was comprised of the SE corner of the county. Exactly how far it extended to the NW toward WV, and to the NE along the Blue Ridge Mountain toward Page County, is hard to say. Based on names I saw while looking though the census, I believe it included the McGaheysville, Pineville and Goods Mill areas, and may have extended to the NE to almost the Cross Keys area. Jim Messersmith Rockville, VA

I have wondered about the location of 56-1/2 also. The only thing I could come up with was to compare those members of my family living in the 56 1/2 Distrist in the 1850 R'ham census with the exact same members of my family that I found in the 1870 R'ham census (the 1870 is the first available census where these family members turn up in a township that I can actually locate on a map). So, the members of my family who lived in the 56 1/2 District in 1850, turn up living in the Ashby, Stonewall, and Elk Run Townships in 1870. This might give a clue as to the location of the 56 1/2 District (provided, of course, that my ancestors stayed put and didn't move for 20 years !!). Hope this helps.

I hope someone has an answer to Richard's query. I've wondered about it for years. Is it described in NARA write-ups for the census in Rockingham County? Richard Bloss wrote: > can anyone pin point the location of district 56-1/2 > in the 1850 census > > that will tell us where a Hess family lived in 1850 > we know it was relatively near the south east corner > of the county (we think - given other marriage data) > > thank you Dick Bloss > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! > http://calendar.yahoo.com/

Does anyone have information on Anthony Rapp, s/o Elizabeth, who married Malinda E. Crawford, d/o Nancy. The marriage took place on Oct 10, 1886 in Rockingham County, VA. Thanks, Robert

Posted on: Rockingham Co. Va Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Va/Rockingham/509 Surname: GEER-GEAR, WILLIAMS ------------------------- William "Willie" Dirk WILLIAMS b.abt. 1887 married Virginia "Virgie" GEER b. abt. 1889 Believe both to have been borne in Greene Co. but moved to Rockingham Co. had 5 daughters & 1 son Elsie, Lucille, Mae, Lula, Nellie and Robert. Any info appreciated.

can anyone pin point the location of district 56-1/2 in the 1850 census that will tell us where a Hess family lived in 1850 we know it was relatively near the south east corner of the county (we think - given other marriage data) thank you Dick Bloss __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/

someone asked me for an up load on the reunion article from Valley Banner. I have miss placed the email address. please contact me again Thank you Dick Bloss __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/

Posted on: Rockingham Co. Va Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Rockingham/506 Surname: Reed, Looker, Kemp ------------------------- I am trying to find Jacob Reed parents and when he died. He was born in Rockingham Co. but I don't know when. He married Sarah Looker July 15, 1844 they had 3 children. Sarah then married Morgan E. Kemp on June 9, 1851. They had 3 children and moved to MO after 1854. Sarah was born April 1, 1825 to Archibald and Lucy Looker. Thank you

Posted on: Rockingham Co. Va Wills Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/RockinghamWill/24 Surname: Reed, Looker, Kemp ------------------------- I am looking for Jacob Reed. Born in Rockingham Co. Married Sarah Looker July 15, 1844. He died between 1848 and 1851. Sarah then married Morgan E. Kemp June 9, 1851. I am trying to find Jacob parents and when he died. Sarah parents were Archibald and Lucy Looker. Thank you. Gail

Is their someone that can do a 1840 Census look up for me? JH

for people looking for obit archives try going to www.shenandoah.com click on the the obit search area with the name you are looking for MAYBE you will find who you are alooking for worth a try Dick Bloss __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one Place. http://shopping.yahoo.com/

This is a time for us to remember our veterans and the sacrifices they made for us, their descendants. It's because of them that we enjoy the freedoms we have today. In honor of the WWII Veterans who served from Rockingham County and who lost their lives in that service, I have put up a web page at the Rockingham County VAGenWeb site (http://www.rootsweb.com/~varockin/wwII.htm) This page lists the names of these men and I will be adding photos as received. If you have photographs of any of these men and would like to include them in this memorial, please contact me. Thanks. Harriet Welch Rockingham County VAGenWeb Host hwelch@rica.net