Dear Listers: I am new to both lists above. I am trying to solve a family mystery. I am looking to find my Mother's paternal side, which extends to West Virginia. I have information on my great grandmother, but it is my great great grandfather that I am stuck. Here is what I have so far: Margaret Virginia Robinson was born May 11, 1898 in Romney, West Virginia. She is listed in the "Hampshire County Birth Records, Vol. One, Years 1865-1922." Her parents are Luther Robinson and Bettie Davis. Margaret moved to Allegheny County, MD at some point because she married June 4, 1918 to Channing Lee Jones (b. September 5, 1886 d. February 13, 1953). I have all of their children and most of the grandchildren. I started my search by looking in "Hampshire County Marriages of the 1800s" to find a marriage of a Bettie Davis and a Luther Robinson. There were several Luther Robinsons but none married to a Bettie Davis. So, I looked for Bettie Davis and found the following: John Luther Caster (23) to Bettie Davis (19), April 8, 1879. Because of this, I was able to deduce a birth year for each person--1856 and 1860. So, my next step was to look in the 1860 census. I did find the following: John Robinson, aged 50 Mary, wife, aged 52 Luther Carder aged 4 I believe these to be his grandparents. I have searched the 1850 census for various Carder families but have yet to search for them in the 1860 to see who does disappear from the records. This may give me a clue as to whom John Luther's parents may have been. Nor I have I checked guardian bonds, guardianship papers or death records for any Carders between the years 1856-1860. I am currently trying to look in the 1870 and 1880 census to see when John and Mary may have died. This will help me to find a will. Maybe that will tell me the relationship of Luther Carder. I did find John and Mary in the 1850 census with a son, Isaac aged 22. However, I did not find a marriage bond for him in Hampshire or Mineral counties. I was thinking he may have married a Robinson and thus be the father of Luther. Is there another county, close by or once was part of Hampshire, that I could also look to? Luther and his family were found in the 1900 census for Hampshire Co. The listing is as follows: Luther Robinson, head, born 1858 (really 1856), aged 42, born VA., father born VA, mother born VA. *Anna E. (Elizabeth), wife, born March 1860, age 40, married 22 years, born VA. **William, son, born April 1880, aged 20, single, born WV ***Isaac, son, born 1885, aged 15, born WV ****Vance, son, born 1887, aged 13, born WV *****Lee, born 1891, aged 9, born WV ******Jas. E, son, born March 1892, 18, born WV *******Nancy A., daughter, born 1893,aged 7, born WV ********Clarence, son, born 1896, aged 4, born WV *********Margaret, daughter, born 1892 (really 1898), aged 2, born WV Can someone give me some instruction on what I should do next? Where would I locate Guardianship papers or guardian bonds? Thank you so much for any assistance. Tina Baltimore, MD. [email protected]