Researchers : I need help with a problem that might ring true with many on the list. I have been searching for over 30 years for the first wife of my JOHN W>COLLINS. He appeared in his father's household on census reports and in court records of Pike Co. til about 1820. It is then I figure he left the household to marry his first wife tho I could never find out who she was. A couple years ago I was sent a file and in the middle of reading it I let out a war-hoop ........There was the first wife. LYDIA TONER! ( since that day I discovered John Collins M Lydia Toner in Grainger Co. TN 8,1821...found "Early Marriages of TN" ) I was thrilled about this everything seemed to check out however a person using FTM has presented their family history and the CD says this John is the son of Griffin Collins ( due to fact that Griffin signed marriage bond ) My John W. is son of Meredith Collins and children of John found in a family bible are the same as those of John and Lydia Toner. The census of 1850,60,70&80 Tazewell and McDowell Co. Va/WV adds to the confusion as there is an entry of a John and Lydia ......and a John and Mary "Polly" both John's being about the same age, born in same state, and Living both in the area of Peeryville District. Also John and Lydia had a son named John Jr. and John W. by his first wife whoever she was also had a son named John W. Jr. My question is......since I was never able to find a marriage record for my John and Mary.....is it possible that my old gggrandpa was keeping two households going at the same time? Can anybody help me sort this mess out? John W. b. 1797 Va. d. after 1870 probably McDowell Co. WV married 2x's 1) ______2) Mary "Polly" Roarke/O'Roarke Children's name from Bible: Children of John and Lydia Toner (census) John W. Collins Jr. 1. John William Collins 2. Jacob Jacob Collins 3. William Benjamin Collins 4. Benjamin Margaret Collins 5. Margaret Cicil Collins 6, Ira Ira Collins Alfred Collins b. 1853 Tazewell Co. Va Arnetta "Nettie" Collins b. 1855 Tazewell Co. Va. Richard Collins b. 1858 McDowell Co. WV (my line ) any help appreciated.......Is this a match or not? Brenda Collins Dillon