Bonnie, I don't have any info directly on your family--I know there are Talleys in both Gallatin and White County--but have some general thoughts about your research. 1. I think you need to do some census work, going forward and backward from what you know is part of your family. You can get census microfilms with CDs of the microfilms just starting to be available, and most of the Gallatin Co. censuses have been transcribed into books. >From 1850 on the census records list everyone in the household and there state of birth. Most genealogy programs allow you to enter census information to your records on individuals. 2. As to 1805 records, it will be hard to find much more than perhaps some family bible records or information from wills or other probate documents, that is, if your family members were around long enough to have enough property to have wills and probate files. Again, you have to go backwards and find who died when and see what's available. Gallatin Co. does have a published probate index, but I have never seen a book of wills. The courthouse in Shawneetown tries to be helpful. I am also a big fan of old county histories and all kinds of family history books. 3. As to the name, I have learned to take anything close as potentially my family. Some of your ancestors might have been illiterate, and the census takers didn't usually get spellings and recorded the name as they heard it. 4. It sounds like you could use some more info on how to do genealogy--there are many things available on the internet or in bookstores on in your area genealogy library. I was lucky enough to have the ladies who set up our genealogy in White County (IL) to help me get started. Cindy Birk Conley Carmi, IL