I always presumed that my g g grandmother, ELIZABETH CHINN, died in Rappahannock VA, where she lived in 1870/80.

Not smart

When I didn't find her in the 1900 census there,I gave up the search.

Finally, I did a first name search of all of her children in Pittsburgh because I knew her daughter DELILA (CHINN) CLARK lived there with her family.

BINGO! I found a MINNIE, born in VA and when I looked at MINNIE, her last daughter, there was my ELIZABETH "Chuin")living with MINNIE (CHINN) LEE and husband John LEE, all from VA.

I went back and checked on the LEE family from Rappahannock and there were many of them, I had not noticed the LEE name before I checked today. The two families lived near each other for many years.

I am so excited because today I sent off for her PA Death Certificate and maybe, just maybe, it will hold the key to the mystery man ~ WILLIAM CHINN, who was suppose to be the husband to ELIZABETH.

In the 1880 census, Elizabeth says she is SINGLE with all the children but other records list a father ~ WILLIAM CHINN.

In 1900 she is still " ELIZABETH CHINN" and the census says she is "widowed."

I am just thrilled because it opens so many more doors that I thought were closed.