Ok Linda, Jane and Lee,

My grandmother's maiden name was Busby her father an escaped slave and her mother, Ailsa Dickens aka Elsie.

Ailsa's parents John DICKENS 1819-1910 b. in PA. and Susan MCDOWELL 1827-1910 and his father John abt 1788-1848. Her mother is listed as Delilah HUGHBANKS on a later census however on Susan's death certificate her name is listed as Delolla JACKSON.

John b.1788 in N.C., d. before 1850, was married to Alsy SIMPSON 1790-d. after 1850. His father's name was John also, sometimes spelled DICKINS.

This latter John is the one who I'm interested in and have found in Redstone, PA.

I have been to Cambridge, Guernsey Co. and got a lot of information, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, wills and probate records, and Books! however as you know I AM STUCK.

I live in Tucson, AZ [and there is a 3 hour time difference] so if I can have ANY help from someone who lives in the Redstone or Brownsville area I would appreciate it.

I'll be exploring the thought that the name may have been Dickenson at some point prior to or during the time in PA and maybe NC (or Deacons).

Other names that have come up in the family in Guernsey county or surrounding areas in Ohio are:

William RANSOM who maried Eliza [sometimes listed as Alsie, Elsa] John's [b. 1819] daughter;

Katie aka: Harriet or Hattie, MCPHERSON married John, 1852-1897 [Albert Dicken's son (John's b. 1819] brother;

John's b.1852) daughter, Martha married Fred EARLEY in 1896

" " son, Lewis marrie Margaret Ernestine BETTS

As you may know by the fact that I try to list dobs, the John's have driven me CRAZY! I think almost every family had a John in it so looking back is at least easier than working forward (and thank God! for that small blessing)

However, I think I'll move forward a little in the family tree and fill in more branches, this might help at this point.

Thanks for the time