This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: FayeReynolds27 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.blackshear/1.4.7.22.26.27.31.34.54/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I know this is an old post but I ran across something that will be of interest to you, that I found in my Blackshear notes (I descend from Jacob Blackshear & Judith Moore) Apparently your Leonidas was adopted by a Blackshear at about age 3-4, however, I do not know which Blackshear. It might be possible to get the legal records to this application for his name change, from the State of Georgia. NAME CHANGES in Twiggs County See List of Names Changes in the State of Georgia 1800-1856 http://www.georgiagenealogy.org/twiggs2/names.html Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That Leonidas Wiley Ray, of Twiggs county, shall be known in law by the name of Leonidas Wiley Blackshear, Approval Date: Assented to, Dec. 22, 1827. There were a number of Ray families in Twiggs Co, all of who seem to be from Benjamin Ray R.S. Given the date of his birth, it is most likely a son of Benjamin Ray Sr's. The Blacksheariana does not have every Blackshear. Mr Blackshear not only did research in the US & England but also contacted Blackshear families in the US. Some responded, some did not, so the more current (in 1954) descendants may not be complete. Hope this helps Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.