For over 32 years I have been attempting to find the parents and/or family of one Martha THOMAS. An 1883 newspaper article has led me to this county and maybe someone on the list ties in or has the info I've hunted for so long. Martha THOMAS was born 30 May 1788 in NC. She married in Decatur, Macon, IL on 25 Feb 1808 to John D(arns) GORIN. John was a State Rep and the family moved to Vandalia IL when it was the state capitol. John died there 26 Apr 1846 and is buried in Decatur, IL with the rest of the family. Martha lived in Decatur, then moved for a time to Memphis, Scotland, MO to live with a son, Henry Madison Gorin. She died 13 July 1876 in Decatur and is buried there. Of her family I can find nothing until I saw the following article from the Decatur IL Daily Republican, 22 Aug 1883. "James THOMAS and family, of Farmington, arrived in Decatur with their household effects, and will make this city their home. They will occupy the Bear property, corner of North Church and Marietta streets, which was recently purchased by Mr. Thomas, who is a cousin of J. R. Gorin." J. R. Gorin was James Rinaldo Gorin, son of John D and Martha Thomas Gorin. This likely would be son of one of Martha's family. Does anyone tie in with this Thomas line that could point me back a generation or so? I have read the Fulton Co census on ancestry.com - some are mis indexed - can find none on the 1850 census in Farmington, but in other towns in the county. I would be forever in your debt - and if I can help out in Barren Co KY - I will! Sandi Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html SCKY surname registry sites: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/reg.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/forms/SCKYreg.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/