Was Lincoln Baptized In Secret ?

[Steve]

Since I haven't read the book myself, I don't really want to comment on this just yet.

There is one thing I do think I can comment on since it's referred to in the Hall article. The article says the book says that Abraham Lincoln met the Vance family in Danville Illinois before heading to Washington. Supposedly the Vance family had moved there towards the end of 1860. In the article Hall demonstrates how that trip to Danville never happened. I'd like to add one more thing that Hall never knew. The Vance family didn't move to Danville until sometime in the 1870's, first appearing there in the 1880 census. Below I've copied the 1870 census record for the Vance family. (Note: Maria claimed to have been born in Illinois, so the Kentucky birthplace may be an error in the original census return.)

1870 Census

Name Maria Vance
Age in 1870 50
Birth Date abt 1820
Birthplace Kentucky
Dwelling No. 2042
Home in 1870 Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Race Black
Gender Female
Post Office Springfield
Occupation Keeping House


Household Members (Name) & Age

Maria Vance
50

Julia Vance
24

Narcisa Vance
23

Rose Vance
18

Neal Vance
13

William Vance
26

John Vance
14