This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: leighdowns51 Surnames: McGrady, McLaughlin, McGlothlan, Blankenship, Roberson Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.alabama.counties.coosa/2319.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Your grandfather and my grandmother are half siblings. My grandmother, Hilda Faye McGrady Finn, is still alive. John Silas was in his 60's when she was born. John Silas only had one sibling, a brother, William Robert McGrady. Their father was killed in Petersburg, VA during the Civil War on 6/20/1864. I have a transcript of a letter he wrote to his sister, Caroline McGrady Kelley, informing her of her husband's death (Marion Kelley) during a battle in the Civil War. The letter was dated just 5 months before he himself was killed. They fought together in the same company. Several of Williams brothers were also confederate soldiers. I have all the regiments they were in. They called John Silas McGrady's first wife "Liza Jane." Her name was actually Elizabeth Jane Blankenship. She died shortly after giving birth to her last child, Fannie Beatrice, in 1904. The baby died at age 6 months. John and Liza Jane had 11 children together, including your grandfather, Blunt Davis McGrady. John Silas met Hannah Roberson at work at Avondale. He was a night watchman. She worked in the mill. They married and had 6 more children. Liza Jane was the daughter of William Blankenship and Sarah Roberts. William Blankenship was the son of John Blankenship and Milly. Blunt had a great aunt and uncle who were children of Robert C. McGrady and Rhoda Adeline McLaughlin (sp?) born 1851 and 1848 respectively. Blunt had a brother named James Toll who was probably named after Tolbert. If you will email me direct at downsville@aol.com, I will be happy to give you the info I have researched on this family. Leigh Mathis-Downs Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.