This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WilliamHorsley93 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.horsley/440.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Don't know much about your direct line, as I am descended from John B. Horsley's brother, Theophilus Horsley (TT). John B and Permelia had a bunch of children. It is reported that he abandoned the family and "ran off with a red-headed schoolteacher." Don't know if that's true, but the 1860 Arkansas census lists a John B Horsley, wife Elizabeth, and 3 or 4 kids, 2 of whom, due to their ages, have to have been the children of Elizabeth prior to the marriage IF that's the same John B. John B's father was William N. Horsley. There is also a William N Horsley (born 1772-1775 in Halifax, VA) who could be the father of John B and TT. These Horsley's moved south from Maryland beginning in about 1750. While some (like William N) were born in Virginia and North Carolina, there is no evidence they settled there. They did settle in and around York, SC by 1800. Some then began moving into GA, then to AL. There are 2 more Horsley lines, one that settled in VA in the mid- to late ! 1600's and another that settled in New England. There is no common ancestor in America for these 3 lines (though there might be back in England). The Virginia Horsleys moved west into TN and KY, then into OH and Indiana. Some went into Arkansas and Texas, as well. The New England family stayed pretty much in the northeast, but did move into PA. The Horsley who moved his family from Maryland was James Horsley (Jr) who married (in MD) a Margaret Valentine. There were a bunch of Valentines in western Maryland and she may have been one of them, although the Horsleys were on the Eastern Shore. I think they moved to SC (for land, of course) because there were Valentines already there before 1800. The name Valentine crops up not only in the line descended from the Maryland Horsleys, but also in KY and TX in the line descended from the VA Horsleys. I have seen it in a lot of old records so it may have been a fairly common name. Contact me if you would like more info. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.