This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Cei.2ACEB/2907.2925.1.3.2.1 Message Board Post: Although there may not be enough data on these and allied families for a formal genetic study, the instance of deafness in various families may indicate the possibility of a common ancestor. I had not heard of deafness among Hicks families before this series of posts, but I have heard of it in a particular Jones family. "Oh, that's great - what does any Jones info possibly have to do with these Hicks folks?" Well, here is info from Robert Allen who has done much research on the Butler and allied Jones families, and below it an idea on how this information may be related to the Hicks family noted in this string. Marion Corbit Jones b. 13 May 1855, son of Jackson Jones and Elizabeth B. Butler, m. Tabitha Sophronia Thomas, dau. of Richard Thomasson and Rebecca Singleton. Marion was a farmer, carpenter, and coffin maker in Carroll County TN. Tabitha spun and wove her own cloth. Of their ten children, five were born blind: John, Arthur, Ida, Medie and Lorne. Note that Marion Jones' mother was Elizabeth Butler, a descendant of Elias Butler of Carroll Co. TN and earlier Montgomery Co. NC. Littleberry Hicks, son of Daniel Hicks and Lucy Butler, lived near Elias Butler in Montgomery Co. NC. There are several instances of intermarriage between Hicks and Butler in these lines. I suspect that the William Hicks mentioned earlier in this string may also be related to the above Daniel Hicks. It seems too early to make any conclusions concerning possible relationships here, but the instances of deafness are something to keep in mind during further research.