Does anyone have information on Gerusia/Jerusia RHOTON or her son William RHOTON, possibly illegitimate. Gerusia is listed in the 1850 census as being age 32, with siblings age 17 and 11, in the household of Jonathan, age 71 and Susannah, age 56. Could she have been an "old maid"? In the same census William Rhoton, age 9 is listed in the household of James (age 55) and Mary (age 64) JEFFRIES. Did they "take him in" and raise him? On 6 January 1869, William RHOTON (age 16) married Rebecca DAY (age 32)!?! Under the parents column, he lists only Gerusia RHOTON, while Rebecca lists A. W. and Anna DAY. On that page, William is the only person listing only one parent. William and Rebecca were parents of my g'pa Andrew Jackson RHOTON, with siblings named Billy and Jane (Rhoton) GIBSON. G'pa Andy was married to Winnie ROBINETTE, whose marriage I cannot find recorded in either Scott or Lee County. G'ma Winnie died March 1906 of TB. Hopefully, someone knows the story of my Gerusia and William. Before my dad died, I told him that someone had told me there was no need to begin racing my Rhoton roots that I'd run into a dead end. Dad, being of the generation that he was, did not want to discuss any "such stuff," in spite of my urging that this was something that happened and not to be ashamed of after all these years. At the time the old gentlemen told me the above I was a young mother; too young and too busy to ask further questions. That man has since died and any other old folks around home that I've asked never heard of my g-g'pa being born out of wedlock. In a later census William is listed as a farmer. Tradition says he was also a preacher. My dad was Emmet Wilson RHOTON 1902-1979 married to Emmer Ethel BOWEN 1909-1947, if that could help identify the above William. I would also be interested in knowing the origin of the name "Gerusia/Jerusia". Thanks for any help. Nora Rhoton Bailey Kingsport, TN e-mail: [email protected]