Janet, The notes you have uncovered are very interesting and I would think bear looking into. Since your post I have gone over many of my own files and books, searching for any of the Hill names you mentioned that might fit but have come up empty. I have the book, "The Hills of Wilkes Co., GA" but cannot find the names Joab Hill or Henry Taylor Hill anywhere in the index. Still, as large and extended as Sen. Hill's family was, with various relatives living in GA, AL, TN, MO, AR and TX all at the same time, it is certainly conceivable that a cousin could have stayed with him or other Hill family members. There are many references to friends and family coming and going, neices and nephews boarding with aunts, uncles and grandparents at various times, sometimes for schooling and others just to visit for long periods. Since this Henry Taylor Hill supposedly came from TN as a young man, my suggestion would be to start digging in and around Warren Co., TN. As you know, Isaac Hill, Sr., his son Henry John Alexander Hill, and other sons and grandchildren were firmly settled in this area by 1816. I would look not only in McMinnville, Warren Co., TN, but also in some of the neighboring counties of Coffee, Grundy, Van Buren and White. (There are probably more but I'm not looking at my Atlas at the moment) Based on what you know (if anything)of the letter writers' ages, can you give us a rough estimate of the dates of birth for Joab Hill, his brother Thomas, the son Henry Taylor Hill and his daughter Mary Hill Box, as well as this V. Royt Hill? Henry Taylor Hill, if he stayed with Sen. B. H. Hill's family in GA must have lived aprox. during 1845-1882, since Sen. Hill was b. 1823, married in 1845 and died in 1882. If he stayed with Sen. Hill's father, John J. Hill, the latter lived 1745 to 1848 and married in 1806. This would make Henry Taylor Hill necessarily older if he stayed with the Senator's father. It isn't likely he stayed with Isaac Hill, Sr., the grandfather of Sen. B. H. Hill, because Isaac, after moving to TN in 1816, lived out the rest of his life in TN and died there in 1825. I did happen to find a 6 yr. old Joab Hill on the 1860 census for White Co., TN as follows: (However there is no brother Thomas, although perhaps Thomas was not yet born. I have no idea of the relationship of the James Broyles and Merril Wilson found in the same household) P185-39 HILL August 4, 1860 - District 12, Sparta PO 1300/1285 James A. 37 M W Farmer Tn Hulda 30 F W Tn Franklin C. 10 M W Tn Joab 6 M W Tn James M BROYLES 35 M W Farm Laborer Tn Merril WILSON 30 F (B) Boot & Show Ma This would put Joab Hill b. abt. 1854 and therefore not a likely candidate to be the father of the Henry Taylor Hill who left TN to live for a time with the Hills in GA. I mention this simply because there are a number of Hills in the counties bordering Warren Co., TN who may be related to the Isaac Hill, Sr. line in some fashion. My other thought on this, would be to pursue the unusual middle name of V. Royt Hill. The middle name may well be his mother's family name. Joab is also a name I've never seen in the Isaac Hill, Sr. line, but it could also come from his maternal side of the family. The names Henry, Thomas and Mary are of course found in this line, but are fairly common names overall. Thanks for sharing. It has given us some more food for thought. Jackie ______________________________________________________________ Get Your Free E-mail at http://www.prontomail.com