I just realized that I had not sent in my family. I descend from: Thomas and Naomi Thompson Gillespie George and Mary Graham Gillespie Thomas L. "The Hatter" and Catherine Beard Gillespie James and Christiana "Christine" Gillespie Hurt William and Mary Ann Hurt McEwen Charles and Virginia Francis McEwen McCracken William Brown and Martha Mays McCracken Boyd and Lela Mae McCracken Thomas Larry and Barbara Swoboda Thomas I believe that all of us know about the first two generations, so I'll touch a little on the third genetation, Thomas L. and Catherine. Thomas was born on July 27, 1776 in Rowan Co., NC where he was raised while his father, grandfather and uncles fought in the Rev. War. Catherine was the daughter of John Lewis Beard and his wife Christina Snapp. John immigrated from Germany in 1749 and Christina's parents immigrated from Alsace in 1733 to Frederick Co., VA, four years before Catherine's birth in 1737. All Lutherans. Around 1796 Thomas was sent to Salisbury where he met Catherine and married on August 24, 1796. Thomas' grandparents died the following December and Thomas inherited land on the Duck River. Catherine's father was already dead and her mother died in 1799. It appears that they must have moved shortly afterwards, because all of their children were born in TN including Christiana who was born 1799-1800. They stayed in the Maury/Marshall Co. TN area while all their older children moved to Western TN. Later the younger children moved to Johnson Co., IL. Their son George and his wife Martha Swain both died in the early 1840's and their two children came to live with Thomas and Catherine who were now in their mid to late 60's. In 1852 at 76 years of age, Thomas rode on horseback from Marshall Co., Tn to Johnson Co., IL to visit his younger children. (He may have went through Henderson Co., TN where the olders ones were, but it is unknown that he did so.) A year or so later, Thomas, Catherine and their two grandchildren moved to Johnson Co., IL by overland teams. Thomas died on Oct. 10, 1855 and Catherine died on Sept. 7, 1857 and are both buried in the Johnson Co., IL cemetery. Thomas was a farmer his whole life, but always kept a hat shop on his farm and made and sold hats to his neighbors. From this he was called, "Tom the Hatter" to disquinsh him from all the other Thomas'. Larry