One mystery replaced with another ... The Patsy Birdwell who married Waddy Thompson on 2-5-1823 in Roane Co, TN was a daughter of Joshua Birdwell (11-4-1777 to July 1839), and granddaughter of George Birdwell (c1720-1781). Patsy’s mother is unknown. Patsy’s relationship to Joshua was proven in his estate papers which show “Wadda Thompson” received her share of Joshua’s estate. The marriage of Joshua Birdwell (1777-1839) to Mary JEANS (or some show JOANS) was recorded in Roane Co, TN on 8-18-1813. This later marriage is widely known and some have shown it as his only marriage. However Joshua’s earlier marriage to a wife whose name is not known is confirmed by the presence of Patsy as his daughter. Again Patsy married on 2-5-1823 and was certainly born well prior to Joshua’s 8-18-1813 marriage to Mary. Aggie Birdwell located Joshua’s estate papers filed in Blount Co, Tennessee. They also confirm he was dead before 8-5-1839 when the first of these papers were filed. Of course the mystery isn’t fully solved yet since Joshua’s estate papers also indicate there was at least one, or probably two, more unnamed children who were still alive in 1845 and living somewhere outside of Tennessee. In 1845 these unnamed children had not yet claimed their share of Joshua’s estate. Now my best guess is that one of them was the Abraham Birdwell (c1804, TN) who was listed on the 1850 census in Marshall Co, Alabama. However, THIS IS NOT PROVEN, it is just my guess. I would welcome any other ideas on Joshua’s first set of children, or the identity of his unknown wife. Weldon J. Birdwell, in Montana

Weldon - one of these days, you/me/we/somebody (wink) should trace Waddy Thomson back .... I have two Waddy Thomsons' in my ANDERSON line - also connected to the MERIWETHERs (as in Meriwether Lewis) ... Waddy Jr (my 5th GGF) was a renowned character in the War of our Independence ... he was an aristocrat that was known to have taunted the British every chance he got ... Including, once he was cornered by the British while visiting the house of a friend for a toddy ,,,, he raised his glass to the British as they were closing in, saluting them, downed the drink, spurred his horse and off he went jumping a fence and into the woods ... There has to be some connection - who would name a son "Waddy" on purpose for no apparent reason other than kinship ??? Jerry Jerry R Anderson Anderson & Associates Recruiting For Financial Professionals www.members.home.net/j.r.anderson/