First of all, thank you for your response. The Andersons relocated from Henry County Virginia we believe around 1864 / 65 to Stokes County North Carolina. One person directed me to the 1870 census in Henry County. It was at that time that I discovered that my gggrandfather's name was really Tony (1844)instead of Laney as he is listed in later censuses (1900 and 1910). I know he was married to Nancy Anderson (also 1844) and they had several children including my ggrandmother, MARIAH. I've only found her in the 1880 census and the one from 1900 I believe. So we are trying to get our feet wet and see what we can find. I think they were slaves of Leonard W. Anderson because their paths (Henry County and Stokes County) pretty much crossed in the same direction but there is nothing to lead me to find out if he really was a slave or the decendant of one. I did make use of the Slave Schedules w/ Ancestry.com I saw the possibility. So, I began to wonder if they had possibly been freed or born into freedom. Basically grasping at straws and trying to learn.
Also, you're right! You did respond to another query. The more I read and see (especially on message boards) the more I've tried to learn from others. :-)
Thanks for your help and suggestions!
Barb