In a message dated 12/26/00 6:01:11 PM Eastern Standard Time, CRAIG-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: << This is what I have from a letter he wrote. The first CRAIG coming to America was a highlander. He states that he came over when Lord Baltimore founded his colony in Maryland, his name was 1) John CRAIG, blacksmith by trade. He married and had a son John. Then after the revolution drifted west and settled in Mecklinburg County North Carolina where the next 2) John CRAIG was born. After a few years when this John CRAIG was ten years old they crossed over the Blue Ridge into West Tennessee where he grew up. 1) John CRAIG had the following children: James, John, Joseph, Solomon, Hannah, Nancy and Elizabeth (Betsy). 2) John CRAIG had the following children: Eliza A. CRAIG, Hanford A., Sarah A., Nathan B., Joseph, Benjamin, Mary J., John Wesley and Nancy J. Any of this sound familiar? >> The information above comes from a remarkable letter, written by John W. Craig, then of California but originally from Clay County, Illinois. The letter was shared with me recently by Linda McKeand of Reno, Nevada, a direct descendant of John W. Craig. I am a descendant of James Craig, son of John Craig listed above. These Craigs moved from North Carolina to Smith County, Tennessee in about 1804 and settled on Rawls Creek. John Craig died there in 1836. In those days, Smith County was considered to be in "West" Tennessee, although now we consider it a part of Middle Tennessee. Based on the census listings for him in 1820 and 1830, he was born in the 1760s. So far, we have not discovered the name of his wife. John Craig of Smith County, Tennessee had the following children: 1. James Craig (b. NC ca. 1787) who was my direct ancestor. He married Susan, and was living in Smith County, Tennessee as late as 1850, but apparently soon followed some of his children to Southern Illinois. According to John W. Craig's letter, he then moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he died. 2. Jane Craig. Probably single. Nothing further known. 3. John Craig, Jr. (1794-1857) who moved to Clay County, Illinois. He married Nancy Bishop, daughter of Jones Bishop of Smith County, Tennessee. 4. Rachel Craig, who married Willie Harris. My research indicates that they moved from Smith County, Tennessee to Madison County, Tennessee in the 1830s. 5. Hannah Craig, wife of Basil Davis. This family moved to Madison County, Tennessee, then to Arkansas and part of them also went to Clay County, Illinois. 6. Joseph Craig appears also to have gone to Madison County, Tennessee. 7. Elizabeth Craig, married William Vinson/Vincent. 8. Nancy Craig, married William Scaief and went to Clay County, Illinois. 9. Solomon Craig, died when a young man according to John W. Craig's letter. I would be very interested in corresponding with anyone who is descended from this family. Erick Montgomery