Lorene & C.J.: My great, great uncle told me a number of old stories before he died. One of them was that he had heard rumors of legends in the Burns Family that my 4th great grandfather John Burns had a brother named Jesse and even a brother named James (I have no documentatio for such a legend). Therefore, I read your comments with some interest, Lorene. John Burns was said to have emigrated from "somewhere out east" (Penn., Tenn., Vir?) to Louisiana with his wife, Sarah McWilliams (b. in Ireland in 1780). They married somewhere around 1800, so the time frame seems to match up with the family that you mention, Lorene. John Burns was supposedly murdered and his widow married a man named Gabriel Beasley. I have found mention that John's son, Willoughby, was sent to Tennessee for some schooling (he was Presbyterian, I believe), so they may have had family ties up there. It's all very mysterious. I have found out one thing: the Burns' seemed to be terribly closed-mouth about their ancestry. The book that you mention sounds very interesting to me. I would love to know when it comes out. Otherwise, if I've said anything that sounds familiar, please let me know. Basil David Burns