Wilma - Your group sounds a little like mine. I have a James Farris married to an Anne? - they were in IL (and stayed there the rest of their life) in 1817. They had 4 children. One of the sons stated he was born in SC in 1796 on a later census. Any chance your James could be mine? Debi Wilma wrote: > > Gail, thanks for the prompt reply! Can't believe that the info you gave me is the same James as the one whose estate was probated in 1778....too many years later. > Yes, my James did have a son James, but this definitely isn't him; my James' son James was clear out in Missouri by this time. > > The James that I'm looking for was m. ca 1769, had three sons: John (my ancestor) b. 1770, Humphrey b. 1772, and James b. ca 1774. I don't know the location of any of > these events; apparently James Sr. was a 'ramblin' man'. The tradition is that James Sr. was killed by Indians, and his widow Catherine remarried 1783-84. So his > estate would have been probated in this period of time (1774-84). I don't think that he would have been alive too many years after the last child was born, or there > would have been more children. > > Not only am I interested in identifying my own ancestor, but I'm trying to do a one-name study on the surname prior to 1800. What you're in the process of collecting, > would be invaluable in my search to connect at least some of these "separate" lines. I hope that you're willing to help! I'd certainly be glad to pay the cost of > copies, etc. > Wilma > > ==== FARRIS Mailing List ==== > Submit your "Most Wanted Farris" to me and I will place your query on the "FARRIS MOST WANTED" web site at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/1882/FMW.html -- Debi Fort Myers, FL df620@gate.net - - - - - - - - - Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.