I am only an amateur histoian, but have found that genealogy is an excellent way to learn history. In fact, I have learned a lot of my own family history because of their association with famous people. When I first became interested in genealogy my Spanish teacher in college, who was a Mormon, brought me some books to help me get started. I randomly opened the book and it showed an example of a Library of Congress card which read "Thomas Trammell, Revolutionary Soldier". Incredible as it seems, it was the Trammell family I was researching and my ggrandfather's name was Thomas Jefferson Trammell. The card listed the author and the city he lived in. I called information, got his number and just like that I was totally hooked. The first Thomas Trammell came to America in 1650. They were in Stafford Co, VA. They donated the land that Falls Church is built on. George 'Washington really did sleep at Samuel Trammell's plantation and recorded the fact in his diary. I have not gotten beyond Thomas Boatright m Amy Rushing dau of Richard Rushing. Thomas and Amy went to Texas with Stephen F. Austin's first 300, also 2 Trammell orphans went with them, James and Burke. Burke Trammell died at the Alamo. Their daughter Patsy (I think her name is really Martha) m Thomas Trammell. They had a son named Lewis. @1830 Thomas and Amy came back to Ark. from TX as they were having trouble getting their land grant. Thomas Boatright, Patsy and Thomas Trammell and several other collateral families members died. No record of an epidemic so I think maybe they had yellow fever. Thomas and Amy were my 5th ggrandparents. Any info you have on earlier Boatrights would be appreciated. God Bless, Linda