I have found data that supports adding two sons to the family of James and Sarah Laughlin Estes. While searching the Charles Fenton Mercer Colony files at the Texas General Land Office I found the following: Charles Fenton Mercer Colony Colony Certificate # 619 Issued to William S. (sometimes shown as L.) Estes Amount granted 320 acres Colony Certificate Date 02 May 1850 -Transfer request made by James Estes and wife Sarah Estes on 12 Mar 1855 ......"William L. Estes, our son, died leaving no living heirs. James and Sarah Estes of Tarrant Co. Tx. .....Patent issued to heirs of William S. Estes 18 Feb. 1858 Patent No. 700, Patent Vol. 16 ------------------------------------------ Colony Certificate # 618 Issued to John Estes Amount granted 320 acres Colony certificate date 02 May 1850 Transfer of colony certificate requestes by James Estes and wife Sarah Estes of Tarrant Co. Tx. " John Estes, our son, died and left no living heirs." Transfer made on 12 Mar 1855 ------------------------------------------ Support for identity of James and Sarah Laughlin Estes: 1. Kaufman Co. Tx. Library has a "Wall of Honor" for Kaufman Co. Tx. Pioneers. Listes is William L. Estes born 1831, came to Texas with the Mercer Colony died 1850. 2. James and Sarah Laughlin Estes married 06-Aug-1825 in Gasconard Co. MO. - they lived on in Texas. He served in the War of 1812. 3.1847 Henderson Co. Tx. Brands & Marks Book A, page 165: Silas E. Estus a crop off the left ear and a swallow fork in the right. Filed 03 Feb 1847, Recorded 22 Oct 1847. Pae 166: James E. Estus a crop off each ear and an under bit in the right. Filed 09 Feb 1847 Recorded 22 Oct 1847. (Note: Henderson Co. is adjacent to Kaufman Co. Tx.) (They are registering their brands for cattle, hogs, etc. See description in Will listed later.) 4. !850 Kaufman Co. Tx. Census 254 255 James Esters 57 male farmer Kentucky Sarah 47 female Kentucky Silas 23 male sheriff Missouri Beales (Bayliss) 17 male farmer Missouri Mary A. 14 female Missouri (Sarah) Elisabeth 11 female Missouri B.J. (Benjamin James) 9 male Missouri ****** Mary LAUGHLIN 36 female Missouri (Sarah's sister or sister-in-law?) John R. Coggin 18 male laborer Georgia 5. 1854 Tarrant Co. Tx. Tax List - Easter, Thomas -Ester, James 6. 1860 Tarrant Co. Tax List Owner Abstract Org. Grantee Acres Value Estes, Silas 327 S. Estes 320 640 Estes, Silas 244 S. Fernell 100 400 Estes, James - James Estes 320 1600 Estes, James - Bayliss Estes 160 480 (I have land records on Bayliss in Tarrant Co. Tx.) Estes, James - Crawford 10 50 7. 1863 Tarrant Co. Tx. Tax List Estes, James Estes, Silas 8. 1864 Tarrant Co. Tax List Estes, James Estes, Silas 9. Estes Cemetery, Tarrant Co. Tx. 1857-1981 Contributed to USGen Web Archives by: Margaret Bates (mebates@swbell.net) When James Estes and his family moved to the Mansfield-Webb area in the mid-1850's, little did he know he would be burying his wife, Sarah. She died 16 Apr 1857 and was the first to be buried in what is now known as Estes Cemetery. James Estes set aside on acre of land as burial land for his family. A few days after his wife died, his granddaughter, Mary A. Estes, was buried 22 Apr 1857. Another granddaughter, Texana T. Estes, was buried alongside his wife Sarah. Silas Estes, son of James and Sarah Estes, took the responsibility of caring for the cemetery..................... Estes, Mary A. July 14,1855-Apr 22, 1857 born in Tarrant Co. Tx. Estes Texana T. Dec. 7, 1858- Aug. 23, 1861 Estes, Ben F. Jan 22, 1862 - June 5, 1868 Estes, Silas, June 2, 1826 - July 28, 1886 Estes, Elizabeth M., wife of Silas, May 28, 1835 - Jan. 31, 1904 Estes, Wills D. Feb. 4, 1866 - Sept 2, 1904 Estes, J.H. Feb. 4 1866 - Sept. 2, 1904 10. Estes Trails Jan. 1987 page 13 Estate Records: FOOTPRINTS, Sug. 1978 (sent by Jo Ann Estes) Petition of Silas Estes for letters testamentary on estate of JAMES ESTES, decd. Filed 30 Sept 1864. Will of JAMES ESTES, of Tarrant County. Dated 28 Jan 1858. "To my present wife POLLY ESTES" Son: SILAS ESTES; BENJAMIN JAMES ESTES Grandson: J.W. HOOKER Daughter: SARAH ELIZABETH HART Executors: son, SILAS ESTES and son-in-law T.J.HOOKER Witnesses: Richard Bratton and Joseph Nugent Proved at Oct. term of court 1864 by oath of Richard Bratton. Files 31 Oct 1864 MARY ESTES, of Tarrant Co. Tx., conveys to the heirs at law of her late husband, JAMES ESTES, decd., including the land. In consideration SILAS ESTES, of Tarrant Co.,"is to allow.....................................also the cattle belonging to the estate marked crop off the left ear and swallow fork in the right............ Dated 29 Sept 1864 ........................... Report of Commissioners appointed to appraise and partition property........................The heirs further represent to us that BAALIS ESTES, son of deceased, died in 1857........................ Filed 29 Nov 1865 11. Charles Fenton Mercer Colony. Numerous families from Missouri came with the Mercer Colony. Mr. Mercer contracted with the State of Texas on Jan. 29, 1844, purpose to colonize Texas. Family sections were 640 acres. Contract stated that the number of families settled in each of the five years succeeding the date hereof shall not be less than 100. Family defined and .........., or two single men over the age of 17 (each would get 320 acres). 12. Hiram M. Estes, his sons, Aaron and George W., all came with the Mercer Colony. They came from Gasconard Co. Missouri, the same place James and Sarah Laughlin were living when they set out for Texas. Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to put all the evidence in one place. I welcome any comments or advise on what is lacking to add William S/L Estes and John Estes as sons of James and Sarah Estes. Diane Miller