Carolyn, I have no specific information for you, but I do note a coincidence that might bear closer examination. I have a Robert Albert Burns, married Mariah Riley in 1828, and they named one of their daughters Mahala. She was born in 1842 and married an unknown Wilson. I have no other information about her. The name is unusual enough that I thought their could be a connection. The 1850 Ohio Census (Adams Co., Franklin Twp, #71/71) shows the complete family as: Albert BURNS 52 M Farming $200 VA Manah (Mariah) 41 F " Sarah 21 F OH Israh 20 M " B. J. 17 M " John 13 M " George 11 M " Mahala 8 F " Robert 6 M " Mariah 3 F " Joseph 1 M " Another daughter, Phoebe, was born in 1852. Do any of these names recur significantly in your family? Jack Burns > From: "Carolyn Bowse" <cbbowse@earthlink.net> > Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2003 11:47 PM > To: BURNS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [BURNS] Burns Family of Transylvania County, NC > > I would appreciate any information on the ancestors of James Alexander Burns > (b. 12/25/1800 d.12/17/1880) who married Mahala Cagle (b. 5/31/1798 d. > 6/10/1881). They lived in the Little River section of Transylvania County, > NC. They were my gggrandparents, but I have hit a brick wall in my search > for their parents. > > Carolyn Bowse >