Hi, Alabama Researchers: Please join us tonight for an ALABAMA genealogy chat covering the whole state, all counties. Monday Chats: http://huntsville.about.com/mpchat.htm (subtract 1 hr. for Central; 2 hrs. for Mt.; 3 hrs. for Pacific) 10-11 am Eastern--all states East of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER (genealogy) 1-3 pm Eastern--MID-WESTERN STATES 8 pm Eastern--ODD MIDDLE NAMES (genealogy) 9 pm Eastern--ROBERTS family surname 10 pm Eastern--ALABAMA genealogy 11 pm Eastern--GENEALOGY RESEARCH HINTS & QUESTIONS If you miss the chat, post your query in the forum: http://about.delphi.com/ab-huntsville If you've never been in a chat room and need instructions, just write me and I'll send you step-by-step instructions. Jean Brandau huntsville2@home.com

Hi, Morgan Researchers: Won't you join us? Great chance to find your missing ancestors! Saturday Chats: http://huntsville.about.com/mpchat.htm ALL DAY--Genealogy "Open House"--all states; any surname 7 pm Eastern--NORTHERN STATES genealogy 8 pm Eastern--SOUTHERN STATES genealogy 9-11 pm Eastern--CIVIL WAR genealogy Sunday Chats: http://huntsville.about.com/mpchat.htm ALL DAY--Genealogy "Open House"--all states; any surname 7 pm Eastern--All Surnames starting with A-J (any state) 8 pm Eastern--All Surnames starting K-Z (any state) 9 pm Eastern--WISCONSIN genealogy 10 pm Eastern--GREAT BRITAIN genealogy Everyone is welcome! If you miss a chat......stop by the forum and post your surname queries or research questions and browse the board for messages of interest to you. Lots of action there. http://about.delphi.com/ab-huntsville If you need instructions for the chat room or the forum, write to me and I'll help you. If you'd like to be on our master chat list, let me know. Jean Brandau huntsville2@home.com

----- Original Message ----- From: <HudsonK@aol.com> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 14, 2000 12:10 AM Subject: [ALMORGAN] Re: THE HERITAGE OF MORGAN CO, AL > Oh the books thickness is 2 3/4" <GR> but I still don't know what a "dooby" > is..LOL > Per Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (WWWebster Dictionary copyright © 2000 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated) : Main Entry: do·er Pronunciation: 'dü-&r Function: noun Date: 14th century : one that takes an active part <a thinker or a doer> Per Tricia's Southern Heritage and Modern Day Slaughtered English Dictionary (A Mother's Expanding Vocabulary © 1974 by TRH) : Main Entry: doo·by Pronunciation: 'dü-bee Function: noun Etymology: Middle American parent-child interaction, from an old mother housed too many years with too many children, from slaughter of doer Date: 20th century : one that takes an active part in helping others (sometimes measuring books in their leisure time) <a thinker and a doer, and sometimes measurer>

On the list of Hunters from The Heritage of Morgan County, I thought I ought to clarify the identity of Jerri Hunter on page 92 (The Herman Franklin Bailey Family). She is my first cousin's wife, and while she is a very sweet person, she has no other known genealogical connection to Morgan County Hunters. David Cofield

Yes there are a FEW books left..once they are gone there will be no more reorders. They are $85 plus $10 S/H if you have them shipped. You may mail your check to: Morgan County Genealogical Society, Inc. 624 Bank St., Decatur, 35601 Oh the books thickness is 2 3/4" <GR> but I still don't know what a "dooby" is..LOL Also many families in Morgan Co. came from Laurens Co., SC..I do have Laurens Co Wills 1784-1840 in my personal library if anyone would like me to do lookups. Another hint..many traveled on to SW AR...Montgomery, Polk, Sevier, Howard Cos. AR. I maintain Sevier & Howard Cos on USGenWeb Project. (same url as Morgan except replace almorgan with arsevier and arhoward) I know I have people doing look ups on both sites that might be able to help you if you think your families went that direction. If you wish me to do lookups in the Laurens Co book...be patient I have to get ready and leave early Sat morn for a genealogy fair in Coffeyville, KS but will get them done ASAP For those that have asked..my husband went thru surgery fine...so now only 10% blockage rather than 90%. He is a little slower getting back to par this time but it has only been a couple weeks. Kathy

No problem. Sorry that we didn't hit the big one for you. It's Kathy Hudson that is checking on THE book (:: giggle ::), I think, Judy. She is the list owner. I'm just a list participant that sometimes opens my big mouth ...er-r-r-r-r, fingertips too often. She's a good dooby (Pssst... don't tell her though! <G>) and I'm sure will let you know! Tricia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom and Judy" <jendt@cwis.net> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 4:06 PM Subject: [ALMORGAN] Thanks > Tricia, > Thank you so much. There are a couple of names that caught my attention, > but we know so little about this man that it is hard to make any positive > connections. Let me know if the book is still available. I would be > interested in purchasing it. > Judy > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > For your email to go thru the Morgan Co., AL mail list you must be subscribed. To subscribe send your email to: ALMORGAN-L-request@rootsweb.com (for the diget mode replace the L with D) In your subject line type: Subscribe (type: Unsubscribe if you wish to get off the list) To send your query to the list, whether you are on the mail mode or the digest mode send it to: ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com > >

Hi...the 1830 census shows a SIMS, Harrison, 1 male 20-30, 1 female 0-5, 1 female 15-20. Here is the info I have so far on the Harrison SIMS I am looking for....... Harrison M. SIMS, b.1814 GA m.Louisa Phillips 1845 Autagua Co. AL, land patent 1858 Perry Co. AL.. His children were: Mary, Elizabeth, James, William, Harrison, Bulia, Henry and Noel. 1870 census. Perry Co. I don't suppose anyone knows him?:) Thanks, jenniferSIMS http://home.talkcity.com/MigrationPath/jjsjjs/CABIN.jpg

Tricia, Thank you so much. There are a couple of names that caught my attention, but we know so little about this man that it is hard to make any positive connections. Let me know if the book is still available. I would be interested in purchasing it. Judy

Sorry Tom and Judy.... I didn't find a reference to a Joseph Hunter using the index. I'm listing what I did find for the benefit of any other recognizable "connecting" names you might have, and anyone on the list that might glean some help from my findings. Tricia Roberts Hall Greenville/Spartanburg, SC __________________________________ He best understands who has felt the pain. -- The Compassionate Friends Nicole Noella 12/30/1980 - 4/17/1999 ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________ >From The Heritage of Morgan County, Alabama, Limited First Edition, LOC#98-72631, ISBN 1-891647-19-9, published by Heritage Publishing Consultants, Clanton, Al., Walsworth Publishing, Inc., per the index on p. 928, using single word reference "Hunter": p. 5 History of Evergreen Methodist Church: R. B. Hunter William Slaten Hunter H. L. Hunter p. 92 Herman Franklin Bailey Family (from previous page): Jerri Hunter p. 165 Brown, Sims Geneology (from previous page): John T. Hunter p. 167 under Bryant/Jordan(2): O. B. Hunter Odis Benson Hunter p. 251 Dunaway Family: Angeline Hunter p. 255 James Jackson Dunsmore/Dinsmore: Margaret Elizabeth Hunter p. 353 Joseph Daniel Hitt (from previous page): Capt. Hunter, personnel manager pgs. 400-401 Hal Hunter: John T. Hunter Robert H. Hunter James Wheeler "Jim" Hunter John Dutton Hunter Edward Wilson Hunter Ida Estelle Hunter Ada Louise Hunter John Hunter Martha Hunter pgs. 401-402 John T. Hunter Family: John T. Hunter Ambrose R. Hunter George Michard Hunter James B. Hunter Asbury Hunter Luta Margaret Hunter Nancy Hunter Sarah Hunter Luvicee Hunter William Marshall Hunter James Wheeler Hunter Robert H. Hunter p. 448 The Joseph and Isaac Lane Family: Pherebee Hunter p. 463 Lindsey Family: Mary Jane Hunter William "Bill" Hunter p. 467 Livingston Family from previous page: Mary Mollie Hunter p. 723 Smith Family from previous page: Delphi Hunter p. 725 Frank Smith Family: Estelle Hunter p. 790: Can't find any reference here, nor on the preceding or following page. If it's there, I'm missing it. p. 896 Yates/Hooper (14): Olen Hyde Hunter Noah Hunter Noah Benson Hunter Daniel Noah Hunter Jack Harley Hunter Kathy Deanna Hunter Barbara Gleen Hunter Billy Joe Hunter Lee Hunter Lisa Hunter Johnny Ray Hunter Timothy Edwin Hunter Kathy Dorraine Hunter Johnny Ray Hunter, Jr. Jordan Tyree Hunter Michel Rexrode Hunter Disclaimer: Search results are from using an index reference in the above referenced book to scan pages to pick up Hunter names. This searcher, being mostly cross-eyed by now, may well have missed something, made a typo, etc. Pleeee-ase don't hold her accountable for any errors! Thank you. The UnderManagement ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom and Judy" <jendt@cwis.net> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 9:42 AM Subject: [ALMORGAN] book > Goodmorning, > If the Heritage of Morgan County, Alabama book has an index, would someone > please take a "look-see" and check for Joseph Hunter. He was a blacksmith > in Decatur in 1870 and has "fallen off the face of the earth". > Also, I'm sorry if this is inappropriate, but we are to the point that we > are willing to pay someone to search the court records for land probates or > other info about him. If you are interested, please contact me personally. > Thank you , > Judy Woods > jendt@cwis.net > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > You can reach your listowner at HudsonK@aol.com > >

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR NAMES: (1). Thou shalt name your male children: James, John, Joseph, Josiah, Abel, Richard, Thomas, William (2) Thou shalt name your female children: Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, Maria, Sarah, Ida, Virginia, May (3) Thou shalt leave NO trace of your female children. (4) Thou shalt, after naming your children from the above lists, call them by strange nicknames such as: Ike, Eli, Polly, Dolly, Sukey.---making them difficult to trace. (5) Thou shalt NOT use any middle names on any legal documents or census reports, and only where necessary, you may use only initials on legal documents. (6)Thou shalt learn to sign all documents illegibly so that your surname can be spelled, or misspelled, in various ways: Hicks, Hicks, Hix, Hixe, Hucks, Kicks (7) Thou shalt, after no more then 3 generations, make sure that all family records are lost, misplaced, burned in a court house fire, or buried so that NO future trace of them can be found. (8) Thou shalt propagate misleading legends, rumors, & vague innuendo regarding your place origination (A) you may have come from : England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales....or Iran. (B) you may have American Indian ancestry of the______tribe...... (C) You may have descended from one of three brothers that came over from______ (9) Thou shalt leave NO cemetery records, or headstones with legible names. (10) Thou shalt leave NO family Bible with records of birth, marriages, or deaths. (11) Thou shalt ALWAYS flip thy name around. If born James Albert, thou must make all the rest of thy records in the names of Albert, AJ, JA, AL, Bert, Bart, or Alfred. (12) Thou must also flip thy parent's names when making reference to them, although "Unknown" or a blank line is an acceptable alternative. And an addition of: Thou shalt name at least 5 generations of males, and dozens of their cousins with identical names in order to totally confuse researchers.

For what it's worth -- I'm seriously not attempting to be a "twit", for Martha2 does have a good point. This is assuming I'm reading her email intend correctly (which is most always debateable since email lacks the voice tones that most of us rely on for interpretive help). I'm just presenting a bit of a different view for some of us that tend to stick our fingers in to help a lot of folks sometimes.... as God forgive us, but we get busy and just act plain stupid sometimes! (Without mentioning any names, I know someone in this group that was up in the wee hours last nite working for this list and back up again early this morning and can't measure 'cause she can't see!) Using it as a source in a chart, or referencing it directly as I did (without clarification for which I apologized), I'd tend to agree with you wholeheartedly. In such a case, there are things such as call numbers, credits, page references, and such (one could make become a source instruction lesson) that should/could be used to make the source documentation valid and as accurate as possible. (For newbies, there are web sites that help one learn the "rules" of ancestry.) In simply mentioning the book in casual email conversation, so long as it is relatively clear what book one is talking about, I'm not so sure that I agree since we seldom call anything by it's "proper" name in this country. Having to lookup to write the 'proper' addressing of "The Heritage of Morgan County, Alabama, Limited First Edition, LOC#98-72631, ISBN 1-891647-19-9, published by Heritage Publishing Consultants, Clanton, Al., Walsworth Publishing, Inc.", to clarify exactly WHICH edition and/or publication of WHICH titled book you're mentioning everytime one writes an email would get pretty old rather fast -- particularly when one deals with numerous books. Most likely that would only tend to make most busy folks not bother to make *any* reference to any book to benefit anyone on a list. For instance, when this email came through I was busy looking up the Hunter name for the previous writer. Now that this has come up, I'm having second thoughts as I'm not sure I can afford to add on the additional time I see that would be required to further properly give the pages, paragraph and subject references for the 18 occasions of Hunter listed in the The Heritage of Morgan County, Alabama, Limited First Edition, LOC#98-72631, ISBN 1-891647-19-9, published by Heritage Publishing Consultants, Clanton, Al., Walsworth Publishing, Inc. index on p. 928. /me smacks Kathy with a gum wrapper for her oversite in leaving off the THICKNESS of The Heritage of Morgan County, Alabama, Limited First Edition, LOC#98-72631, ISBN 1-891647-19-9, published by Heritage Publishing Consultants, Clanton, Al., Walsworth Publishing, Inc. Ummm... lemme see... it's about a finger's length thick. :: grin :: Oh! And the cover is GREEN. Well... kinda sorta. Ooops.. there I go again. Using "it's". /me rolls her eyes and grins. Just teasing... and hopefully not offending anyone as that most certainly is not the intent. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martha2" <Martha2@hiwaay.net> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 10:13 AM Subject: [ALMORGAN] HERITAGE book > Speaking of accuracy, it is important that your source titles are > correct. So if you are referring to the Heritage of Morgan County, > Alabama book; please refer to it as that rather than the Morgan Co. > Heritage book or some other title. Thanks. > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > USGenWeb Events: Conferences, Seminars, Fairs etc. http://www.genealogy.com Be sure to have your state's events posted to the site. > >

Goodmorning, If the Heritage of Morgan County, Alabama book has an index, would someone please take a "look-see" and check for Joseph Hunter. He was a blacksmith in Decatur in 1870 and has "fallen off the face of the earth". Also, I'm sorry if this is inappropriate, but we are to the point that we are willing to pay someone to search the court records for land probates or other info about him. If you are interested, please contact me personally. Thank you , Judy Woods jendt@cwis.net

Federal Pension Records are on-line for 10 days free at Ancestory.com. Be sure you check the State you think/know they lived in at enlistment and the States where you think/know they lived after The War. For uncommon names you would do best not to pick a State. I have found some mis-spelled even when the actual image is clear, so look carefully! Carleen http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/military/cwpi/main.htm

I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the person having so much trouble finding her people because of name changes, etc. I would like to relate a sitution we have run across. A "cousin" and I had a pretty good guess that her gg-grandfather and mine were the eldest and youngest sons of Levi....In 1850 His oldest son was also named Levi. We were never able to find this son again anywhere. She knew her man was Leven T. and an older man in the county carried this name but was not the father. (I have to add this name follows both our lines down 3 generations). Levi #2 and Leven T were the same age. Since Levi #1 died when these sons were under 18, we surmised maybe Levi #2 changed his name to his ? Uncle Leven's name and maybe that had already been a family name back another generation. (there is yet an earlier one). But what to do? She finally found a CW record and sent for the pension. In the Military record and widow's pension record he is listed as Leven T. BUT she stated " this is not the name he was borned with"! Now, in this family another son was Theodore...never found him again. In the pension records I will send to you next, I found a Theodore....also known as Edward L. ??? Could this be our long lost Theodore? Did these older boys both change their names? Why? Strange things happen and we just have to keep plugging along hoping we will ferret out the truth someway, someday. Carleen

I stand corrected on giving the accurate title and I should have...The book that has been discussed is in fact titled...THE HERITAGE OF MORGAN COUNTY, ALABAMA. So please make adjustments for the correct title. Several have contacted me wanting to know more abt the book...I have sent an email out to see if there are still books in stock for sale. As soon as I hear something I will let the list know if books are available. The Heritage of Morgan County, Alabama has 945 pages..incl the index. It is 9"x12"..please forgive if that is a centimeter off I don't have my glasses on<GR>. Anyway it is a very large book. If I had complaint, the index is surname only..but I wouldn't want to have been the one to indexed given names<GR>. There are many photos of Morgan Co and family photos. There is a list of "lost or almost lost" towns. Info about schools, churches, businesses, military etc. Kathy

Dorothy said: >>>GR was born between 1820 and 1838 Boy... I'll bet ggg grandma wasn't happy about the length of THAT labor! /me ducks and runs like heck. /declines signing :: grin :: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dorothy Ballenger" <dorothy@linkfast.net> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 2:33 AM Subject: Re: [ALMORGAN] Re: Genealogical Sources > I forgot to mention. GR was born between 1820 and 1838 and died in > 1917. I don't think they had tape recorders back than..........I'm not > trying to be a smarty, just making a funny. Worst than that. I wasn't > even born. Boy if I were. I would have a ton of questions for him. The > main question would be........WHY....... didn't he leave a paper > trail. > > Serious, I think there is information that he left and no one is > sharing. > > Dorothy > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > For your email to go thru the Morgan Co., AL mail list you must be subscribed. To subscribe send your email to: ALMORGAN-L-request@rootsweb.com (for the diget mode replace the L with D) In your subject line type: Subscribe (type: Unsubscribe if you wish to get off the list) To send your query to the list, whether you are on the mail mode or the digest mode send it to: ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com > >

I forgot to mention. GR was born between 1820 and 1838 and died in 1917. I don't think they had tape recorders back than..........I'm not trying to be a smarty, just making a funny. Worst than that. I wasn't even born. Boy if I were. I would have a ton of questions for him. The main question would be........WHY....... didn't he leave a paper trail. Serious, I think there is information that he left and no one is sharing. Dorothy

But of course... if it might help someone, go for it! :o) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dorothy Ballenger" <dorothy@linkfast.net> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 2:08 AM Subject: Re: [ALMORGAN] Re: Genealogical Sources > I am not saying this to argue. I left out some information when I told > you about GR. In the news paper article, he mentioned about his age. > He also said that his age was in the family Bible. And that was fact > and he wouldn't lie about it. > > The part that is so hard to deal with, he wouldn't make up his mind > about his age, his name or where he was born. > > I understand that they moved the States around back than. But it names > the counties. Gwinnett and the county in NC is two different counties. > I know that a lot of counties back than where different than they are > now. For example. where I live right now has been in 4 different > counties through the years. I can deal with that. I jst don't seem to > believe that Gwinnett and the county in NC maybe two hundred miles > away could be the same place. I don't remember the NC. county off > hand. > > Yes I bet he was a private man. I think that is the reason he is so > hard to find. > > Thank you for your input. May I pass your e-mail to another one that > is dealing with GR, the impossible? > > Dorothy > > (Tricai I hope you don't mind I forwarded this on to the list since > you meant for it to go there Kathy) > > And... may I add to Kathy's comment... those recordings later can be > wonderful things. My sister did that with my Dad, in particular, who > later died. We now have tapes that I can add to our family tree, with > pictures and "voice" (including his crazy laugh), that I can burn into > CDs for future generations to read, see and hear. > > Kathy's email made several "tip" kind of things come to mind.... so I > thought I'd share them: > Dorothy made the comment in her email .... "said in a News Paper > article > that he was born in NC. On his oath of allegiance it said Gwinnett, > GA.". > Well, when I first started ancestry not so long ago, based on the > migration patterns I saw, I decided that my forefathers kept their > kids and belongings loaded on a wagon so that as soon as they got the > land cleared, the cabin built and the crops planted that they could > move on to the next spot to clear the land, build a cabin and plant > more crops! Seriously, I thought we > must have been 'early settler vagabonds'! Then one day, while > looking for my maternal grandfather... I found some old maps. I > really started studying them only to finally discover that my > relatives may not have moved at all! > What had been Virginia became North Carolina became Tennessee became > God only knows how many counties of Tennessee, and so on over a > relatively short period of time. So... my dear Dorothy (and anyone > else listening)... did you know that North Carolina at one time went > as far west as the Mississippi and as far south as below the now > Greenville County, S.C.? I understand that at one time it may have > gone south all the way to Charleston (the Atlantic), which may well > have encompassed what is now GA, depending on when this occurred. > North and South Carolina were once upon a time 'The > Carolinas', as in one. > > There often are historical maps on state genweb sites, abeit sometimes > hidden, or most likely library historical areas either have them or > can obtain them (books), on loan. You may wish to consider that. > County names now are not usually what they were back a few years ago, > nor a few before that... nor are the boundaries the same. Maps help a > great deal! > > Further... when you find census records with varying information, it > may be that the census taker didn't actually talk to your gg > grandfather (who was busy delivering a baby or sewing up a cut), but > got his information from your gg grandmother, the youngest kid if she > was busy, the neighbor lady if she was gone, or if he was local, > already had it partly filled in since he knew him and everything > about him anyway, or gg grandfather/mother weren't comfortable about > all the questions and didn't worry about being real accurate. Many > folks supposedly were leery of the census takers and their questions > back then. Not that we EVER are in our modern age!! :: blink :: > Your ancestor probably knew *exactly* who he was and what was going > on. (I don't think they really cared a lot about "age" back then > either as we do now.) > > Hope that this helps someone a little... and that I haven't > mis-spoken myself at all. :: grin :: > > Tricia Roberts Hall > Greenville/Spartanburg, SC > __________________________________ > He best understands who has felt the pain. -- The Compassionate > Friends Nicole Noella 12/30/1980 - 4/17/1999 > > > > > > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > Genealogy without documentation is mythology... > A researcher gathers information... > A genealogist gathers documentation... > >

The only reason I have got as far as I have. Is not because I am good at genealogy. I am just a good detective. My father-in-law told me his grandma name. I found a census that I was sure that it was her family, with her father GR (George Riley) Than I went to the library and found in the file cabinet a lady that was working on this same family. She had been researching GR for 30 years. She had not gotten any farther than I, and I had only been at it a short time. I knew more about him than she did. Because since we have connected, She has learned where he went to College, that he was in the Civil War. Mind you. My information was only guesses that she proved to be right. Since she has been in it longer, She knew who to contact. His Civil War states him as William R. But his oath of Allegiance states him as George Riley. I don't understand how he could be two different people and still be honest with his oath. In other words how did it do any good by him not using the same name as the one he enlisted with. Really confused Dorothy ----- Original Message ----- From: <HudsonK@aol.com> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 11:57 PM Subject: [ALMORGAN] Re: Genealogical Sources > Glenda made an excellent point which I overlooked..<<I don't throw info out>> > NEVER disregard something a relative may make statement just because you have > documents disproving the statement. Especially the elderly...they may have > the date, name or place wrong and it may be 10 yrs before you find the > connection. But there is something to what they are telling you..it is you > that has to find the connection and the more accurate story. So don't throw > those notes away. Of course I learned when I began genealogy...I don't write > notes..I can't read my own writing much less other people read it<GR>..but I > always took a small recorder..later a camcorder..I would ask permission to > tape the conversations..this way I can go back and replay and listen for > things I may have overlooked and it was straight from "the horses mouth" so > to speak. > > Kathy > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > Remeber we were all new to genealogy and the internet at one time...so give encouragement and knowledge to the new ones...and in return we will get new ideas and knowledge from them. > >

I am not saying this to argue. I left out some information when I told you about GR. In the news paper article, he mentioned about his age. He also said that his age was in the family Bible. And that was fact and he wouldn't lie about it. The part that is so hard to deal with, he wouldn't make up his mind about his age, his name or where he was born. I understand that they moved the States around back than. But it names the counties. Gwinnett and the county in NC is two different counties. I know that a lot of counties back than where different than they are now. For example. where I live right now has been in 4 different counties through the years. I can deal with that. I jst don't seem to believe that Gwinnett and the county in NC maybe two hundred miles away could be the same place. I don't remember the NC. county off hand. Yes I bet he was a private man. I think that is the reason he is so hard to find. Thank you for your input. May I pass your e-mail to another one that is dealing with GR, the impossible? Dorothy (Tricai I hope you don't mind I forwarded this on to the list since you meant for it to go there Kathy) And... may I add to Kathy's comment... those recordings later can be wonderful things. My sister did that with my Dad, in particular, who later died. We now have tapes that I can add to our family tree, with pictures and "voice" (including his crazy laugh), that I can burn into CDs for future generations to read, see and hear. Kathy's email made several "tip" kind of things come to mind.... so I thought I'd share them: Dorothy made the comment in her email .... "said in a News Paper article that he was born in NC. On his oath of allegiance it said Gwinnett, GA.". Well, when I first started ancestry not so long ago, based on the migration patterns I saw, I decided that my forefathers kept their kids and belongings loaded on a wagon so that as soon as they got the land cleared, the cabin built and the crops planted that they could move on to the next spot to clear the land, build a cabin and plant more crops! Seriously, I thought we must have been 'early settler vagabonds'! Then one day, while looking for my maternal grandfather... I found some old maps. I really started studying them only to finally discover that my relatives may not have moved at all! What had been Virginia became North Carolina became Tennessee became God only knows how many counties of Tennessee, and so on over a relatively short period of time. So... my dear Dorothy (and anyone else listening)... did you know that North Carolina at one time went as far west as the Mississippi and as far south as below the now Greenville County, S.C.? I understand that at one time it may have gone south all the way to Charleston (the Atlantic), which may well have encompassed what is now GA, depending on when this occurred. North and South Carolina were once upon a time 'The Carolinas', as in one. There often are historical maps on state genweb sites, abeit sometimes hidden, or most likely library historical areas either have them or can obtain them (books), on loan. You may wish to consider that. County names now are not usually what they were back a few years ago, nor a few before that... nor are the boundaries the same. Maps help a great deal! Further... when you find census records with varying information, it may be that the census taker didn't actually talk to your gg grandfather (who was busy delivering a baby or sewing up a cut), but got his information from your gg grandmother, the youngest kid if she was busy, the neighbor lady if she was gone, or if he was local, already had it partly filled in since he knew him and everything about him anyway, or gg grandfather/mother weren't comfortable about all the questions and didn't worry about being real accurate. Many folks supposedly were leery of the census takers and their questions back then. Not that we EVER are in our modern age!! :: blink :: Your ancestor probably knew *exactly* who he was and what was going on. (I don't think they really cared a lot about "age" back then either as we do now.) Hope that this helps someone a little... and that I haven't mis-spoken myself at all. :: grin :: Tricia Roberts Hall Greenville/Spartanburg, SC __________________________________ He best understands who has felt the pain. -- The Compassionate Friends Nicole Noella 12/30/1980 - 4/17/1999