Dear Bill, As far as I know, the only proof that any of us has that Joseph Hinds was the son of Joseph Hinds of Mendham, New Jersey, is a page out of a pocket notebook owned by John Hinds which listed the children of Joseph and Ruth. This was apparently written after both Joseph and Ruth were dead and may have been intended to establish that the children were born into a Quaker family. If you do not have this document, contact me privately and I will send you a copy. I, for one, do not believe that Joseph was a descendant of James of Salem and invite you to join us in searching for proof of his ancestry. I join you in your confusion about Fort Lawrence, Arkansas near Hot Springs. I could find no such place and finally concluded that it was in Indian Territory. Such a place existed supposedly in Oklahoma but it may have been across the border in Arkansas. Perhaps that is where the records are that you have been unable to find. Good luck! Barbara