The web page mentioned by Jill Hagelin carries the following information about Capt. Robert Bratton and William Bratton. The site is: http://www.gendex.com/~guest/69751/BrattonHomePage/br09011.htm "ENTERS WILLIAM BRATTON "Born on July 29, 1778, William Bratton was the son of George and Jane Elliot Bratton; grandson of Captain Robert Bratton (born 1712 in Ireland) and Anne McFarland Dunlap. His middle name may have been Elliott [as some believe to be his mother's maiden name.] The "E" was adopted during his Indiana years to distinguish him from another William Bratton, probably his cousin--who also lived near Waynetown, Indiana, and with whom he has often been confused. (o add to the confusion, other sources say that William Bratton was the son of James and Rebecca Bratton and was born in Augusta Co., VA.) "Bratton served an apprenticeship at an early age with a blacksmith, and took advantage of school facilities available to him at that period. 7 "When the Lewis and Clark Expedition was organized to explore the Louisiana Territory, William E. Bratton was living in Augusta County, Virginia. [However, most sources say he was "one of the men from Kentucky."] Arrested by the opportunity to see the GREAT WEST, the young man enlisted as a private in the company recruited by Meriwether Lewis. He was 26 years old at the time. "Except for a period of illness, William Bratton took an active and important part in the three years adventures in the west. He acted in many capacities such as scout, messenger, canoe builder, hunter, military policeman, and general handyman. He became an excellent gunsmith and blacksmith on the expedition and was in charge of the detail that distilled salt when the "expedition ran short of that essential. 2 "Private Bratton was in the third squad of the expedition. Being of "Scotch-Irish" descent, Bratton was a tough, yet disciplined man. He was nearly six feet tall, some believe he had red hair, square of build, very straight and erect, rather reserved, economical, very intelligent, and of the strictest morals. He was often referred to as "Bret." dhamrick@neo.rr.com Dan Hamrick 402 23rd Street NW Canton OH 44709 Phone and fax: 330-454-2376