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