Ramona, I am wondering if our Gordon clans are related. You mentioned that you have an ancestor named Jesse Benton Gordon. Strangely, that middle name Benton intrigues me. My original ancestor in this country was James Benton Gordon, Sr. He came to this country from Co. Donegal, Ireland, along with two brothers, David and William E. Gordon, about 1820 or so. James Benton Gordon was born about 1796, William was born in 1802, and the date of David’s birth is unknown but presumably 1790-1810. David was separated from the other two brothers during a shipwreck of a boat known in their notes as the Floating Sally. David was presumed to have gone somewhere “down south” to live while the other two brothers first settled in the area of Ithica, NY, for one year. Then, they moved to Smithville, OH, for about ten years. Finally, in 1832 they moved to Morgan Co., IL. I descend from subsequent families there. My curiosity stems from my knowledge that about three subsequent generations of my Gordon families also had the name Benton either as a first name or middle name. What it means I don’t know, but I imagine it might have been the maiden name of the mother of J. B., Wm. E. and David. What say you? James C. Gordon