I now believe that my ancestor Hodges E. Dunnavant was Hodges Elam Dunnavant. I am looking for any information on a Walthall - Elam marriage and on Branch Elam. Hodges father and mother were Thomas Dunnavant and Charity (Walthall or Elam?) . There is a William Walthall who witnessed a deed. Does anyone know if this was William who was married to Anne Elam? Or who Charity might be? Below is a document of Branch Elam who lived next door to Thomas Dunnivant , father of Hodges and grandfather of Francis Walthall Dunnavant. Also next door is Jacob Flournoy , grandfather of Lydia Flournoy Dunnavant, wife of Francis. Does anyone know of a connection? 1 William Dunnavant d: 1780 .... +Elizabeth Hodges Thomas Dunnavant m Chairty Walthall ..... 2 Hodges E. Dunnavant b: Bef 1750 ............. 3 Francis Walthall. Dunnavant b: Bef 1781 ................... +Lydia Flournoy Will of Branch Elam, page 656. Mentions wife Mary Elam, land adjoining lands of Jacob Flournoy, T? Dunavaint, Alexander Snellings, Thomas Beasley and Pleasant Cheatham. Directs executors to build his wife a house "18 feet square with a brick chimney". Mentions children William Branch Elam, daughter Diannah B Cheatham (leaves items to her unnamed children, implying that Diannah is deceased), grandsons Madison Elam and Daniel Branch Elam (sons of son Bartlett Elam, deceased), Robert Elam, Joshua Elam, Peter Elam, Phebe B. Godsey, Moab Elam, Ammon Elam, Hodijah Elam (not of age), and Cinderella Elam. Son William B Elam named as guardian of Hodijah Elam. Executors: sons William Branch Elam, Robert Elam, and Joshua Elam. Witnesses: Jordan Martin, Mark F Flournoy, Thomas H Bass, Frances W Dunavant. 26 Aug 1817 Thanks Melissa