Thanks Betty for info on James Ashley. Big piece of my family puzzle missing. Known facts: William Ashley, 1840 census Heard Co.,GA was between 30-40 years old and had 3 sons one between 5-10 age, 2 between 10-15 age. During the Civil War they would have been William between age 50-60 and his sons between 25-35. Because of the way the census was done, I don't know the names of the sons and William just completely disappeared without a trace after the 1840 census. My g grandfather Reuben Ashley, brother to William, was age 24 in 1850 census Heard Co.,GA and had living with him another brother, Thomas Ashley, age 16. My great grandfather Reuben has been found as part of Fannin's Co A of the 1st GA Reserves from May thru Sept 1864, age 46, stationed at Andersonville, GA but the William of 1840 census and his 3 boys along with the Thomas who was living with Reuben in 1850 census has completely disappeared leaving no trace behind. Legal documents in my possession state that Reuben's father was from Maryland on one and South Carolina on the other. IF I could just learn more about William and his 3 sons and Thomas living with Reuben, I could make a lot of progress for I have ALL of Reuben's descendents on down to the present generation but have not been able to go back past these 5 Ashley men.