Barbara VanBuren,

Please list the neighbors cited in the 1860 Denton County census. ... It would help to have about 10 neighbors before and after your Elizabeth Cantwell (Spencer) Reed's entry. I habitually list the 3 neighbors before and 3 neighbors after my target person, but your case is more challenging than most.

I recommend that you send all names and geographical features (creeks, etc.) mentioned in Wm. Reed's 1858 and 1859 Denton County land records. Also, do you have records of the family selling the land?

Since Wm. Reed's dau, Mary Catherine, was born in 1861 (depending on the month) and Wm. Reed was a land owner, he was probably "protecting the border" when the 1860 census taker arrived. Many land owners were not PAID for serving in the frontier "militia"; therefore, no records were kept.

Have you located this William Reed in the 1850 census?

I would try to locate Belle Starr's husband, James Reed, in the 1850 census and go from there ... look at the Reed, Reid, and Read's in surrounding counties. Yes, this is grunt work, but all serious researchers have done such.

QUOTING Barbara VanBuren: This is the information that I have on William Reed.

married Elizabeth Cantwell Spencer abt. 1857

son, Mark Bean Reed, born 1858

I have Mark Bean Reed death certificate - buried in Rule, Texas 1933

daughter, Mary Catherine born 1861

I have her death certificate - 1946 in Stanislaus County, CA

I know the children of Mark Bean and Mary Catherine and their grandchildren

death certificate of Mark Bean says William Reed from Missouri

William Reed Texas land records 1858 and 1859 Denton County

family stories are that William Reed is related to James Reed, husband of Belle Starr