yep, they are the same and yep, there was some messing around.All you have to do is read the census and you can see that. I've noticed alot of folk had babes out of wedlock or so it would appear. I know of two of my ancesters that got the licsense and a preacher but didn't have the 1500 dollars that Tn. wanted before you got married so it was never sent in to the state. I must have alook at the Tn. marriage laws for that time. Almost sounds like you bought your wife from the state!
very interesting. I think the doss family all came from the same family though,just finding which limb we're on is the trick. Glad to meet you. Glenda