Jim, According to the 1830 and 1840 censuses, Simeon and Mary Polly Browning had three older sons and one older daughter who weren't still in their household in 1850. It looks like Nancy Browning could easily fit in as that older daughter. Nancy's death record was a good find, Joel. At least we can see that Nancy's mother's initial "M" doesn't rule out that possibility. Seeing the originial record would help a lot because it does look like Nancy's father's initial is on there but was in a shadow when the record was scanned. I see that James Smith was 18 and was in his father's household in 1850. I wonder where Nancy Browning was when the 1850 census was taken. They would have married soon after that time because their oldest child was age 9 in 1860. I looked at this question before, and here are some notes that I took: - - - In the 1860 census, Nancy Browning Smith was age 35, which puts her birth date at about 1825. In 1870, Nancy's age was smudged so much that it's not readable at all, and in 1880 her husband James Smith was widowed. So the 1860 census is the only cansus we have to go by for Nancy's approximate birth date. 1860 LoCo census, p. 244: SMITH, James 25 Nancy 35 Jane 9 Martha 7 Malinda 4 Stephen H. 9/12. They were living next to Simeon Browning Sr, age 62 (Nancy's pa), and Hiram Browning, age 28 (her brother). 1870 LoCo census, p. 526B: SMITH, James 35 Nancy (age smudged and unreadable) Martha 16 Malinda 13 Stephen H. 9 Amanda 6 Next door lived Abner and Jane Smith Ellis (daughter of James and Nancy Browning Smith). Jane was 18. Also living next to them was Hiram Browning. 1880 Logan District, p. 287B: SMITH, James 48 widowed Stephen H. 17. Daughter Manda M., age 16, was living with a Browning family, not far away. Manda M. married Melvin R. Browning on 12/21/1882, son of Solomon Browning and Louisa White. Daughter Jane's death certificate said that she was born in 1847 (no month or day given), but according to the censuses she was born about 1851, and 1851 makes more sense. Her parents weren't married yet when the 1850 census was taken. James Smith was living with his father George Smith in 1850; James was listed as age 18 (born 1832). I don't know where Nancy Browning was hiding in the 1850 census, but she fits into Simeon Browning Sr.'s family in the earlier censuses. In 1830, Simeon Sr. had a daughter who was between 5 and 10 (born 1820-1825). In 1840, Simeon Sr. had two daughters, one between 15 and 20, and one less than 5. After Nancy Browning married James Smith, she lived next door to her parents and her brother Hiram Browning. Hiram Browning married James Smith's sister Sarah J. Smith. So their children were double first cousins of each other. It would be great to have a document that names Nancy's parents, but I think it looks like she must have been the daughter of Simeon Sr. - - - Does this look right to you guys? Vanessa ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 6:30 AM Jim, Here is the link to her death record. http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=3334454&Type=Death Maybe there is an initial for her father on the original. Joel -----Original Message----- From: Jim Burgess Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 4:24 AM Dear Logan County, West Virginia Genealogist, Does any one know about James Smith born about 1832 who married Nancy Browning James Smith was the son of George Smith and Nancy. They are mentioned on page 392 of Logan County West Virginia and Beyond - I do have the information Found in the book. Rick and I have studied George Smith and Nancy before - Any interest in these families. Nancy Browning must be the daughter of Simeon Browning and Mary Polly Browning. Nancy is not listed in the 1850 Census with Simeon and Mary. How do we know that Nancy is a daughter of Simeon Browning and Mary? 1850 Logan County, Virginia Census Dwelling 31 Simeon BROWNING 51 North Carolina Mary BROWNING 51 North Carolina Solomon BROWNING 23 Anderson BROWNING 20 Hiram BROWNING 19 Nathaniel BROWNING 17 Iveston BROWNING 15 Mary BROWNING 12 James Harrison BROWNING 7 Any documentation or information on this family. Jim Burgess