Hi, Cathy: I think we're on to something here. I did indeed have Nicholas Co. marriage records (although the list I found is not the one I was looking for; I'll keep looking for the other list, which I think lists parents. This one only gives date, groom and bride.) In Nicholas Co. I found: September 29 1829: Thomas Hughes to Elizabeth Patterson And there is also: December 25 1828: Francis Hughes to Phebe Jones What I found interesting is looking in the 1850 Fayette Census. There I find Francis T. and Phebe Hughes. They have children: Sarah, Thomas, Robert, L. L., F. M., and James. (But don't get excited, this is not your Robert, I don't think, but read on...) Coming into 1870, Falls of Kanawha, Household #121, I find Francis T. and Phebe's son Robert is Robert J. Hughes. (In fact, he is the one listed in the 1880 census married to Christiana; he was already married to her in 1870 and they were living with his parents.) Now, of course, this is not your Robert J. Hughes, as he and Elizabeth Dempsey have their own household (#220). What I find interesting is that Francis had sons named Robert J. and Thomas. My thought is that this family came out of Nicholas Co. together, or were living in the part of Nicholas Co. that became part of Fayette Co. in 1831, and that perhaps Francis T. Hughes and Thomas Hughes are related, perhaps brothers. This would make both Robert J. Hughes first cousins. Another interesting thing: all these Hughes do not appear in the 1860 Fayette Census. Where did they go? (Hopefully, the entire family wasn't missed!) Anyway, my oldest son has a baseball game this morning. I'll take a closer look at these Nicholas marriage records and Fayette census records, and see what else might pop out. Best wishes, June