Dear Listers: I have already sent this to every surname mentioned in this to a Rootsweb Surname List...so please do not forward it to a Rootsweb list. In addition, I have also sent it to all surrounding counties that have mail lists on Rootsweb... I am looking for information on my great-great grandfather. The story that my family has heard all of our lives is that he originated from IRELAND with his brother, and arrived in BOSTON. He wound up fighting for the North in the Civil War (supposedly with Sherman), making his way down to SOUTH GEORGIA. He lost his leg, and somehow wound up at my great-great grandmother's door in WAYNE COUNTY, (HORTENSE), GEORGIA as a very sick man. We do not know if he deserted from perhaps BLACKSHEAR'S PRISON CAMP, ANDERSONVILLE, or just made a run for it on SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA. It is said that he and another Irish man, who was also a Union Soldier showed up asking for help. My great-great grandmother was SIDNEY PEARSON MOODY, a widow who had four? children. Sidney was the daughter of SIDNAH RAULERSON (daughter of JACOB RAULERSON and NANCY BAGGS), and SAMUEL PEARSON. Sidney's previous husband was SAMUEL MOODY. Three of their children that I definitely know of were: DAVID BARNEY MOODY, JOHN MARTIN MOODY, and MARY JANE MOODY...there is said to be another one by the name of CHARLES EDWIN... Anyway, because it wasn't proper to be caring for a man in her house, they were married in Wayne County on March 22, 1868. They proceeded to have three children of their own: THOMAS (TOM) who never married because his "sweetheart" was killed in an accident, MARIETTA (SIS) who married J.N. ANDERSON and they had no children, and my great-grandfather, LEWIS PRESLEY who married ELIZA STRICKLAND and they had several children to include: BAZELEAR (BAZE), CALLIE, my grandmother, ALICE (who married HENDERSON DAVIS), and MAZELLE, etc. Here is my problem: My great-great grandfather changed his name from something Irish to MANNING because there were already so many MANNINGS in that area. It is my belief that maybe he deserted, or he just wanted to fit in due to being an Irish Catholic, as well as a Union Soldier! On he and Sidney's marriage certificate, he used the name MANNING. In addition, all of the children above used the name MANNING. His friends and family called him JIM or PEG-LEG, as he did get a wooden leg. My great-aunt CALLIE said that she believed someone in the MOODY family (probably one of SIDNEY'S previous children with SAMUEL) had in their possession one time -- a trunk that contained his Union uniform, and pertinent documents relating to his Irish heritage. I am DESPERATELY seeking this information, as it is very difficult to search for our roots in IRELAND when we don't know what his real name was!!! According to the PIONEER'S OF WIREGRASS GEORGIA, and the LDS FILE -- my great-great grandfather is reported to be the son of MARY ANN BURNEY and JOHN MANNING, who had sons named JAMES and LEWIS P. MANNING. Coincidentally, my great-great grandfather named my great grandfather, LEWIS PRESLEY. In addition, their JAMES MANNING lost his leg as a Confederate Soldier...and according to their JAMES' pension file...their birthdates are practically the same! However, the date on the pension record for their JAMES states that he collected up until February 1895. On my great-great grandfather's headstone, it says he died in 1893. Also, according to the LDS FILE -- their JAMES died in 1916. I do know that Huxford's books do have errors in them, as they have my great grandfather LEWIS married to someone named ELISHA KNIGHT. I have never heard of her; he was DEFINITELY married to ELIZA STRICKLAND and they are both buried in the HORTENSE CEMETERY with their children! In addition, my great-great grandfather JAMES, and his wife, SIDNEY are both buried in the RAULERSON CEMETERY. I do not know why she was not buried with her first husband, SAMUEL MOODY. It was always said that my great-great grandfather, JAMES, named my mother's mother, ALICE ANNIE -- because he had lived on the corner of ALICE and ANNIE STREETS in BOSTON. In addition, my great grandfather (LEWIS P. MANNING), was married after my great grandmother died, to ETHEL JOHNSON...and their youngest son is named JAMES MANNING and he is still alive. He was named after his grandfather, and he too, has always heard he was from Ireland. Supposedly, my great-great grandfather named my great aunt BAZELEAR (BAZE) from the Bible...well, in the King James version...there is no such name; however, it is possibly in an Irish Catholic Bible. My mother is adamant that they always visited their kinfolk when she was growing up (she was born in ZIRCLE and raised in HORTENSE)...and that they never visited the MANNINGS...and that she was even told by a doctor with the name MANNING who belonged to that family -- that they were no relation. I have heard from several people via the Internet who tell me I am wrong and that my great-great grandfather was indeed the son of JOHN MANNING and MARY ANN BURNEY. If this is true -- then my grandfather must have done something terribly wrong to make up a tale like that and for he and SIDNEY to never reveal the truth to their children or grandchildren! So, I am looking for the elusive trunk that had his history in it. I have looked in vain for family Bible's, birth and death certificates or even obituary notices of his children that might have mentioned his real last name or that he was from Ireland. I am tired of hitting this brick wall -- I want to know once and for all, what his REAL name was; thereby, I am offering a REWARD for VERY DEFINITE AND AUTHENTICATE PROOF of who my great-great grandfather really was... I would appreciate that if you respond to this notice -- PLEASE do so privately, to Mesheka@aol.com. Thanks for your assistance.