>From Helen Austin, [email protected] To researchers of GILLESPIE, James Richard b ca 1790-1793 of Blount Co, TN, Morgan and Lawrence Co, AL I went north across the TN River bridge today to Limestone Co, and the Houston Memorial Library in Athens, AL. It is about 13 miles from Decatur. I was in search of the HOUSTON family papers as they relate to GILLESPIE families and hoped this library would have something. One block from the courthouse at 101 N. Houston St. in downtown Athens, the old white clapboard Greek Revival style house was bought by George Smith HOUSTON in 1845. He was b in Franklin TN Jan 17 1811 and grew up in Lauderdale Co, AL and became a lawyer in 1831. He married Mary I. Beauty in 1835 in Athens. Second he married Ellen Irvine of Florence, AL. Although George was a noted stateman, a U.S. Rep and Governor of AL for two terms, his papers and family history are not in the genealogy room of his old house which was donated by the family as a library in 1920. However, I did find a good reference for the BLOUNT Co. TN families. You may have seen the family history, JOHN AND ESTHER HOUSTON MONTGOMERY 1719-1973, compiled and pub by Beulah Henry Anderson, Creed Montgomery, J. Esther Montgomer, Dr. John Montgomery and Margaret Montgomery Vawter in 1974. WHEW! Printed by Brazos Printing, Maryville, TN . In additon to the family history of the HOUSTONs, CALLOWAYS and MONTGOMERYs it also has some of the GILLESPIE connections as mentioned in the book by Lillian Gillespie, GILLESPIES OF BLOUNT CO, TN. What is so interesting to me and perhaps to you is that the MONTGOMERY families seemed to migrate right along with the GILLESPIE and HOUSTON families, coming from Ireland to Philadelphia, and then after PA, to Augusta Co, VA. They were also Presbyterian and there are many quotes and data refs. No bibliography though. Also I found a chapter in TENNESSEE COUSINS by Ray S. Worth about BLOUNT CO, TN families that has several pages on GILLESPIE, HOUSTON, WALLACE, interweavings. Although I did not have time to study all the refs, this library has a three volume set of RECORDS OF AUGUSTA CO, VA. I think someone knew I was coming! It was neat to sit on antique chairs in the front bedroom of the Houston house, looking out over the portico to the old magnolia tree that blocked the view of traffic and look at the stories of the old families. I copied 20 pages from the book and will study them to glean any GILLESPIE, CALLOWAY HOUSTON goodies that might relate to your progenitor. I will post the gleanings. Now, Flint GILLESPIE of Lawrence Co, AL says that the CALLOWAY family was Lucy JOHNSTON's mother's family. So perhaps we should look into a connection with her family. Do we know where Henry JOHNSON/JOHNSTON, Rev War Soldier lived before he was in Morgan Co, AL in 1818 ?