I only joined up a few months ago, and haven't really worked the hobby very hard over the past few years. But with the new energy aboard right now <salute to the new LA>, I thought it might be a good time to join in. My great-great-great grandfather Hiram Pickering appeared in Hampshire County census of 1840 as having been born in VA. In the 1850, his age is given as 47; he and his large (by oiur standards) family were living in Slanesville - or at least an area served by the Slanesville Post Office. I've been to the area and know that Slanesville is indeed in Hampshire County. However, what I didn't know then but have since learned from another branch of the family is that Hiram's son Joseph was born in Mineral County. A secod cousin once removed tells of an uncle who had seen the foundation of the home "near Keyser" in which Joseph was born. The cousin believes the community was called Spring Gap or Spring Brook. I'd be interested in anything that might confirm any of this, of course - but I'd be most interested in a death record of Hiram. He sold his blacksmithing business in 1856, according to records at Romney, and was not with the family - now relocated to Paw Paw - in the 1860 census. Maybe he died, maybe he ran off. I have never found a record of his death. Here, in case it's of help to anhyone else, is the complete pedigree: me Dad Karl V. (born Victor K.) Pickering b: 27 FEB 1902; Spring Valley, Greene Co, OH m: Eva Geneva Roach (1904-1988), 27 SEP 1923 in Eaton, Preble Co, OH CH: LIVING, LIVING (dad), Jimmy, LIVING, LIVING, LIVING, LIVING, LIVING d: 19 JAN 1968; Lima, Allen Co, OH John Franklin "Frank" Pickering b: 27 OCT 1876; St. Joseph, MO OR Greene County, OH m1: Bertha Hannah Snyder (1881-1914); 24 JAN 1898 in Greene or Warren Co, OH CH: Harold, Charles Ernest "Ernest," Victor Karl "Karl," Franklin Clarence "Clare," Florence Hazel "Hazel" m2: Loretta Cole m3: Florence (d MAR 1952) d: 2 JAN 1953; Chicago, Cook Co, IL Joseph F. Pickering b: c1841 (prob in Nov); VA m: E. Victoria Orndorff (c 1845-1877); 24 NOV 1869 in Greene County, OH CH: Charles, Margaret, John Franklin "Frank" m2: Anna "Susanna" (1852-1930); 1881 in Greene County, OH d: 31 JAN 1913; Eleazer, Greene County, OH Hiram Pickering b: c1803, VA m: Sarah Ann Posey (?-?); MAR 1828 in Hampshire County, VA CH: Mary (poss) m2: Sophia Peer (c1810-aft1860); bet 1832 & 1838 CH: John, William OR James, Ann Rebecca, Timothy, Sarah C., Margaret E. I strongly suspect but cannot conclusively prove that Hiram's father was one Benjamin Pickering of the Quaker Pickerings of the Hopewell MM. Researching these 8 greats: Pickering-Snyder-Roach-Teegardin-Hodges-Evans-Kantner-Shifflet + these contributing Pickering/Snyder lines: Orndorff-Kinsey-Beall And, of course, many more! Peruse our entire GEDCOM at http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/~kpickering ONWARD AND BACKWARD! Kurt Pickering, IBSSG La Vergne, TN