Dear Cousins, Some years ago when I would accompany several friends on a fun-filled evening at the local LDS Family History Library I was always surprised that when we reassembled for the ride home, most would remark that they hadn't had much luck, or "I never find anything when I go." I always found TONS of stuff. Invariably I had more information than one floppy disc would hold. Each time I heard someone say they only researched their direct line, I would remark (again) that their ancestors were nonetheless the same for them as their distant cousins, and if they couldn't find information in their direct line why not look for associated lines or allied families? Now that we have the wonderful facilities on the internet, in a few hours of prowling, you can find your ancestors by looking up people who are not your ancestors. This is how I started today. 1. I found a Revolutionary War Pension file for Morgan Brown posted on the usgenweb.com archives. Now, I have neither Morgans nor Browns in my lines, BUT, Sarah Brown Markham is my cousin Claire's ancestor, (mine is Eady Markham who married Thomas Watts) and of course the name Morgan is connected from Pennsylvania to SW Virginia and NW North Carolina to the rest of the world. Besides, I like reading about the people of this time. 2. Morgan Brown was born in Anson County, NC in 1753 or 58 (given as each in different places -- possibly a typo.) His birth and death dates are given in the pension file along with names of some of his children, and grandchildren his wife's maiden name (Elizabeth Little). There are many other details here, including the places where he lived after the revolution. The file is a good example of the wealth of information obtainable from pension files. Morgan Brown died at Nashville, in Davidson County, TN. His pension file was copied and sent in by Sue Skay Abruscato sueskay@pacbell.net and is at ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/davidson/military/brown01.txt 3. Next, I looked at a pension file for Elias Baker. The unlovely ubiquitous names Baker, Davis, Williams, Carter, Smith are some of my primary interests in my families. All seem to be named William or John or Sarah, but I decided to look because of the locality. This Elias Baker served from Rowan County, NC. This Elias went to Elbert County, GA to Franklin County, GA to Madison County IL to Gwinnett County, GA. His wife was Sarah Holebrook, daughter of John. Then I find Elias was born in Baltimore County, MD in 1760. The next thing, I am encountering names that were all around my Pennington/Pembertons and Bakers who lived in Baltimore Co. Burgess, Frizzell, Williams, Sewell, Dorsey, Beall!! I started looking up files on the Rootsweb and Ancestry and I found a ton of information on this Baker family, including the name of Indemion Baker, who was in Baltimore County with my families, and also a Richard Williams had signed a document. Connected with an early Charles Baker is a deed reference with Thomas Preston Sr. in Baltimore County. I've found about ten names of researchers who are undoubtedly connected to my Pennington family. This Pension file abstract was submitted by Stevenson who did not include his e-mail. You may view the file at: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ifetch2?/u1/data/nc+index+6265693 77548+F 4. Now nearly overcome with success, I also found details on a Paul Williams who died in Berkley Co., SC (a Paul WIlliams and a George Williams were granted property at Sherrando and Hopewell along with Abraham and Isaac Pennington in the 1730's. AMERICAN CROSSROADS http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/Migrations/virginia.ht ml 5. I'm just getting greedy now, and find the Last Will & Testament of Edward Stoxdale. (1779) Baltimore County, Maryland. Names encountered: Griffith, Parrish, Williams, Davis. A Stocksill was in Christopher Gist's company -- see my transcription at: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/Gist/company.html Christopher Gist lived in the same Baltimore Co. area as the Penningtons at one time. (Also on the Gist list: Burgess, Stewart, Little, Saunders) This will was submitted by Bob Reynolds at: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ifetch2?/u1/data/md+index+4306970 935+F While looking back over my migrations pages, I see an Andrew Hampton, who now leaps out at me because of Cousin Cari's family names Hampton and Preston! So what's the bottom line, Dear Cousins? I have about 500 leads to follow up with clues too others I've had suspicions about, and you can do the same. The internet is an incredible tool if we can only learn how to utilize it properly. I am putting together some index pages where we will enter the name, the migration paths and the elemental information about each person. These in turn will link to the perimeters where the person's information fits so you can access information similar to the above. This is how I spend my time instead of watching football or writing past due papers for school! Or even getting up pages at the American Crossroads website that connect all of these leads! Welcome to several new Cousins! Write to the list to let us know your research interests and how we can help one another. Come! Let us reason together! Let us communicate! Let us network, even if it's just during half-time! Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@teleport.com ========================================= To send a message to the American Crossroads List: AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads