The Camden family's origins are still a bit theoretical, I am about 90% sure of the origin but so far have not found a bible record, will, or another concrete source of the parentage of my gggrandfather Marbel McPatrick Peter Camden. If my theory is correct, they originated in the Maryland Colony in 1669, that information is documented. Then they migrated to Nelson County, Virginia, which later became Amherst County which is where I believe Marbel was born. Then the family moved to Rockbridge County, Virginia. According to family folklore, Marbel went to another state further south to work as an overseer on a plantation, then we went to Franklin County, Tennessee and was married while in a wagon train to Sarah(Sallie) Hopkins in 1827. Their children were born in Tennessee. Before migrating to Johnson County,Illinois around 1850, they lived in Davidson County, Tennessee. The next generation lived in Williamson County, Illinois. Then my grandfather Shelton Columbus Camden lived in Pope County, Illinois. My Uncle Loren Camden lived in Pope County until in his old age, he was being cared for in Williamson County, he passed away in 1991. My Dad, Aubrey Camden, grew up in Pope County and moved to nothern Illinois in Whiteside County to find work. My other lines mostly lived in neighboring counties in Southern,Illinios. My Joneses lived in Jackson County, Tennessee before moving to White County, Illinois, then on to Williamson and Johnson Counties in Illinois. My Gurley line, which I have just begun to reaserch, was in Johnson County. I believe they originated in North Carolina. The Barbers and Gibbs which are also new to me lived in Southern Illinois as well. My Shelton line lived in Todd County, Kentucky before moving to Illinois. Several generations of Sheltons lived in Pittsylvania County, Virginia and before that Middlesex County, several generations going back to the 3rd charter of Jamestown in the 1600's. This line of Sheltons came from Southgate, Kent, England and were lords and knights going back to the 1100's. I don't have all the documentation done myself, I am still trying to get past all the documentation I need to do in southern Illinois!!! My Hopkins line is my brick wall. I think a UFO droped her off in North Carolina without her parents, they were left in outer space somewhere. The aliens just happened to drop her off in a wagon train headed fro Tennessee, Marbel met her and married her. There was a Hopkins in the 1830 Franklin County census who was listed near where my Camdens were listed, so it is possible that her family may have been migrating to Tennessee as well. I have also seen a few Hopkins listed in southern Illinois too ro they may have stayed in North Carolina. According to the 1860 Johnson County, Illinois census, Sallie Hopkins Camden was born in North Carolina.