Never assume that those “boarders” in a census entry are merely strangers taken in for extra income. Those boarders could be relatives as well. Sometimes the census focuses on the “financial” relationship between the head of household and the resident and not the biological one. Always do a little snooping on those boarders living with your ancestor–they may have a connection via biology or marriage.
Boarders should not be confused with borders. Borders matter in genealogical research as well.
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