A year ago this month, I traveled the Natchez Trace Parkway from Natchez to Nashville. I took a few detours along the way and one of the most interesting ones was when I left the Trace to go through Port Gibson, the Ruins of Windsor and to see the Grand Gulf State Park. At the Grand Gulf State Park I went to the cemetery at the top of the hill and the first grave I came to was a Knowles. Of course, this caught my attention. The marker read: FRANKLIN S. son of J. & H.H. Knowles - Murdered by 6 Blacks in Louisiana on the Mis. River October 29, 1819 Aged 23 years. 18 D. The ranger at the tourist house permitted me to read through the burial lists and this Knowles was the only one recorded in the cemetery. I have wondered since then if this family was related to the old Possum Valley patriarch from Ireland - Richard Knowles? Also, I have wondered why Franklin's family chose to immortalize the cause of his death in stone? And what did Franklin do to those blacks for them to murder him - what happened? In 1819, blacks saw judgement and execution as synonyms for minor offences - not to mention crimes! The town of Grand Gulf was at that time a thriving and wealthy cotton farm community. However, in the 1860's, Grant ordered the town burned enroute to the battle of Vicksburg. Then, after the war the remnants that hung on to what was left of the village were forced out because the river changed course and forever took away what was left except for the jail and the cemetery. And of traces - Cousin Rdea, where is this buffalo trace you mentioned on the River Saline? Is it close to any of the landings we are familiar with or is it at the salt springs north of Benton? BW.