I didn't get to post yesterday as the night before I almost lost our preciious 13 yr old Persian cat named Mischief. She's still with me but very weak - I didn't get much rest. One of my favorite ancestors in the Henry and Sarah Pell Gorin line is again a direct ancestor of my daughters - John Darns Gorin. It took me about 20 years to find out what his middle initial stood for and then later, that the name Darns looks like it came from a Darns family in Fairfax Co VA who lived near the Gorham/Goram etal family. John D and his wife Martha Thomas (b 30 May 1788 supposedly in the Carolinas); died 13 July 1876, buried Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur, Macon, IL - no parentage yet found). They had: 1 Dr Bartley William Gorin - to be covered later 2 Mariah b 10 Aug 1810 Christian Co KY; d 1880-1900 Vandalia, Fayette IL; md 3 Mar 1829 Thomas Coke Kirkman 3 Henry Madison Sr, b 14 Oct 1812 Christian Co KY; d 2 Apr 1889 Memphis, Scotland MO; md 24 Apr 1835 in Decatur Mary Ann Love 4 Elvira E b 17 Aug 1814 Todd Co KY, d 7 Aug 1891 Decatur, md 2 Aug 1831 in Vandalia, Fayette IL 5 Jerome Rinaldo b 12 Oct 1817 Hopkinsville, Christian KY, d 7 Sept 1897 Decatur, md 1 Apr 1845 Decatur to Eleanor Elizabeth Douglas Fawcett 6 Gladden b 20 Aug 1820 Todd Co KY, md 19 Oct 1841 St Louis MO to Mary Catherine Weber 7 Mary Jane b 15 July 1823 Christian Co KY, d 3 Mar 1894 Winchester IL, md 28 June 1838 Vandalia IL Dr Ephraim J Rice 8 John Darns Jr b 25 Nov 1825 Vandalia, d 27 Apr 1878 Pioche, Lincoln, NV, md 20 Mar 1847 Memphis, Scotland MO to Emily Hudnall. I have amassed tons of information (give or take a few pounds) on John D. He is written up in the History of Macon Co IL about he and his family coming to Kentucky as a boy over Daniel Boone's trail. This shows he was born while the family was still in Fairfax Co VA. He is referenced in the "Henry Gorin Bible, presented to his mother" by himself - the copy of which I have. In the History of Scotland Co MO it notes that he moved to Vandalia IL in 1828, and previous to that time he was a farmer and the sheriff of Todd Co KY (where his father had also been sheriff). John D is shown as a private in captain Benjamin H Reeve's Co of Inf., 6th Regt KY Detached Militia, Bourbour's command, War of 1812. John D's family had then moved into Todd Co (or had county come to them). His name appears on many deeds in Christian Co KY and Todd Co. Then John D and Martha, with their children moved to IL.The Illinois State Historical Society, Vol 48, No 2, Summer 1955 edition carries an article on John D in Vandalia - at this time Vandalia was the capitol of IL. He is also written up in Fayette Facts, Vol III, Issue 1, June 20 1928 where in Jan 1830 he was named as a school trustee. The History of Fayette County by Newton Bateman, VCol II, 1910 shows him as an "early settler". He was shown as a member of the First Presbyterian Church there, was on the Village Board of Trustees in 1830, was a Probate Judge in 1828. There are many deeds during this time frame. He purchased much acreage from the Public Domain Sales of IL. He was also a member of the Illnois House of Representatives. Back in the early 70's, I paid a visit to the old courthouse there where they had set aside an area representing the original House when John D was there. I saw his chair, his name was carved in the back of the seat. When I went back in 1991 I hunted all over - the display was still there but was told that the chairs had been removed and replaced with replicas and no one knows where the original furniture is. Wish I'd gotten a picture!!! After John D's death, Martha applied for bounty land based on her husband's service.. She was then living with her son Henry Madison Gorin in Memphis (Scotland Co) Mo. She declared his military service, their marriage (had lost the license). She had also lost his discharge; appointed her son, Jerome Rinaldo Gorin as her lawful agent. She spelled her name as Goren - which the Decatur IL family did at that time. Governor Richard J Oglesby also helped her with this claim. She gave them a hand written copy of the births, deaths and marriages in the family Bible (the one I have!!!!!, that is exciting!). She was later approved for a pension of $8.00 a month. When John D died, they were living in Vandalia IL and it appears that he was either buried in Vandalia and the body later moved, or possibly was buried in Decatur originally. He was only about 56 years old and Martha (Mattie) was 58. Mattie lived back and forth with her sons until her death in 1876. She is buried beside John Darns. Next week - a look at Dr Bartley William Gorin to be followed by Jerome Rinaldo and his son Orville Browning Gorin and lastly with Henry Madison Gorin and Rev. Marcellus Gladden Gorin. Have a great weekend! Sandi Col. Sandi Gorin - Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ GORIN worldconnect website: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/~sgorin