The earliest Sykes ancestor that I know about in my line is Arthur Sikes, who evidently is also your ancestor. My direct line is through Arthur to Henry to William Clay to Bertha. I bought a book from Henry Colyer Sykes, who also lives in Alabama, about a year ago. It is a wonderful book even though it does contain some errors. I do not know if Henry is online yet. The last I talked with him, he said he had a computer and knew how to turn it off and on and that was it. What's amazing to me if that he did all the research without any on-line resources. The book is almost 800 pages and cost me about $60. He also publishes a newsletter for the Sikes/Sykes family that costs a minimal amount for a year's subscription. If you would like his address, I am sure I could find it for you. When I talked to him last year, he still had some left, but I can't say whether or not that is still true. Ira Bell gave me his address initially, so I am sure that he probably has it as well and may know whether the book is still available. Kathy