Mary, Good to hear from you again. Well, Mary, everytime I think that I have figured this family out more pops up and it becomes so confusing. Let me tell you where I am at and what I am working on. I don't know if I told you that I received a Dawes application for Malinda Martin daughter of our James Martin. I have always been told from the family that she was of Cherokee heritage. No one took this to be true. Because of the documents it can't be denied anymore. In this application was also another application from Cornelius L. Martin a relative of her's also asking to be recognized as a Cherokee. It names Cornelius father Ezekial Martin. You will find both of these persons on the Searcy Co, census. Then it mentions Cornelius grandfather Hunting "Jim"Martin that is Cherokee and is on the 1835 rolls. Our cousin in OK researched this at FT. Smith and found James Martin on the rolls for 1835. Now this family ties into Brigadier General Joseph Martin of VA line. His father is Joseph Martin SR b bet 1700 and 1712 in Bristol. England he had 3 wifes. you can find this line on Rootsweb world connect. I believe that 1 of his wife's is James Martin's mother. Probably Elizabeth Ward as I believe that she is the Cherokee and this is where it comes in. Now I am researching in Halifax, VA, to see if these families are the same. I went to the Wayne Co., ILL site and found James B. Martin, Joseph Martin, JR. Joseph Martin Sr, Owen Martin and Henry Martin on the 1820 census. Owen Martin is in Searcy, CO on the 1840 census. Is he the same person? Now we have Nicy Martin daughter to James Martin and Malinda's sister married to John Martin residing in Van Buren Co., AR and finally in Rollo, MO. And when I went into Wayne Co., ILL. Guess what their are Melton's. James married Isobell Melton, and the story goes that they married in ILL. Isn't this interesting? Also now we have the possibility that James Martin's 1st wife that died in VA was an Owen? Could Owen be his son from his 1st wife? another interesting thought. I haven't studied the census yet. will do it tonight. Hope that I haven't confused you too much. I tell you I just can't keep up with this. I have sent for Ezekial Martins war record's. He was in the Mexican war. This should help us to figure out who Hunting Jim Martin was anyway. Could it be James Martin? Any idea's on any of this? Sandra