You're welcome;-)

Inaccuracies involving age, misspelled names, and place of birth, are very common in the census. Enumerators tended to spell names phonetically.

If your ancestors weren't FPOC, they wouldn't be recorded in earlier census records by name. You will need to access county records, vital records, and the Freedmen's records. If you are able to identify their slave owners, you can also try to locate ant extant plantation records.

You can do one of three things. Visit you local Family History Center and rent copies of the county deed books, marriage records, etc., on microfilm. You could visit the local archives/court house in NC, yourself. Alternatively, you can hire a professional researcher.

If you search through the Afrigeneas pages, you will find many posts offering advice about how to prepare and carry out a search of pre-Civil War era records. I would also suggest ordering birth and death certificates for your grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., to confirm the census information.

I couldn't find Hayes Smith anywhere in the 1880 Census. There are three possible reasons for this. The page he was recorded on is damaged, the transcriber who put together the census index misspelled his name, or he was residing somewhere other than Darlington County, in 1880.

>>>>>> IS he the Wesley that appears to be the stepson as shown in the 1880 census?>>>>>>>>

I can’t answer that question. I included everything I was able to find about the McPhails in my previous post. I would suggest ordering a copy of his death certificate and Social Security Records. They should provide you with the names of his parents.

1870 Census Buster, Darlington Co., SC
Thos. Simms 42 M B Farm Laborer b. SC
Lucy Simms 45 F B Keeping House b. SC
Ann Douglas 22 F B Cook b. SC married June 1870
George Bostick 30 M B Laborer b. SC
Reuben Simms 18 M B Laborer b. SC
Hector Simms 16 M B At Home b. SC
John Simms 14 M B At Home b. SC
Charles Simms 11 M B b. SC
Henry Simms 9 M B b. SC
James Simms 7 M B b. SC
William Simms 3 M B b. SC
Elizabeth Simms 1yr 6mon F B b. SC

1870 Census Boston, Darlington Co., SC
Ceser Brown 46 M Mul Farmer Real Estate $0 Personal $130 b. SC
Caroline Brown 21 F B Keeping House b. SC
Allan Brown 19 M B Laborer b. SC
Frank Brown 9 M Mul b. SC
Matilda Brown 6 F Mul b. SC

1880 Census Leavenworth, Darlington Co., SC
George Bostic Head B M 29 married Farm Laborer b. SC Father SC Mother SC
Tilda Bostic Wife B F 26 married Farm Laborer b. SC Father SC Mother SC
Anna Bostic Daughter B F 7 single b. SC Father SC Mother SC
Augustus Bostic Son B M 5 single b. SC Father SC Mother SC
Carry Bostic Daughter B F 3 single b. SC Father SC Mother SC
Emanuel Bostic Son B M 1 single b. SC Father SC Mother SC