Hi, Cousins and Fellow Researchers - It seems my family has been at a brick wall since about the 1980s - and now it's my turn to try to knock it down. Or at least get a peek through. I will tell you a lot of what I know in the hope it matches something you've discovered. I sure appreciate your giving this your attention. My Jennings line settled in Grainger and Claiborne Co. TN. Family lore says that two brothers came in to fight the Indians. I've heard they came from Virginia, but that might have been by way of North Carolina first. We don't know their names, but I have found a Hezekiah (our ancestor) and a Royal Ginnings listed under Capt. Isaac Lane's company (have no idea what kind of company) in Grainger in 1799. I am trying to establish a firm link between this Royal and Hezekiah. To do this, I will need to find our who the parents of Hezekiah were, which no one knows yet. Hezekiah was born around 1770-75, died in Claiborne Co. around 1806. He married Sarah Johnston in 1790 or 1796, reportedly in Johnston Co., NC. (We have lots of information on Sarah's family.) I believe this Royal and the Royal from Grainger Co. might be the same, but I can't prove it. The Grainger Royal was a revolutionary soldier. He apparently had ties to Maryland and Henrico, Va. In Hezekiah's line are at least two Royals, including my ancestor Royal Sterling Jennings. Hezekiah had several children, including Anderson Jennings (my line) (1800-1857), Rebecca, Sarah and Lacy. Royal was appointed guardian of these children when Hezekiah died. Anderson, in turn, married Zelphia Moore (daughter of David Moore and Polly Shearman) and had: Anderson M., David F., Jane, Elizabeth, Lucinda, Margaret and ROYAL STERLING (b. 1845 and married Eliza Jane Yoakum, daughter of Ewing B. Yoakum and Martha Van Bebber). My line runs through Royal Sterling's daughter, Hattie Cordelia Jennings, and her daughter, Bessie Lee Hill. My mother was Louise Yoakum. Sarah Jennings (wife of Hezekiah) was a member of Big Springs Baptist Church (think Hezekiah was dead by the time it was established) in Claiborne. Also members were an older Elizabeth Jennings and Obediah and Elizabeth Dodson Jennings. We think Elizabeth Jennings might be Obediah's mother. I would also love to establish a link between Hezekiah and Obediah. I know the Obediah Jennings researchers have been looking for Obediah's parents as long as I've been looking for Hezekiah's. (Obediah was born 1787, died 1830 - lived in Grainger and moved around 1810 to Warren County. Children: Rutha, Jesse Dodson, Mary Polly, Sally, Tabitha, Nancy, Leah, Royal and Isham.) What one researcher has said is that four brothers who are mentioned together in the Wake County, NC records came to Tennessee together: Hezekiah, Royal, William, George and John. There was an older William in Claiborne Co. at that time, who had a son William Jr. I can find nothing of George (perhaps he moved on?) or John. Or an Isham that was mentioned about this time. (late 1700s) Do any of these belong to your families? I have Jennings on both sides of my mother's family. Another missing link is JOHN STERLING JENNINGS (about 1810-1880). We don't know who his parents were either. He married at least twice, first to my ancester, Mary Polly Moore. His son, William D. Jennings, (born about 1850 and married to Martha Ann Vance) had my great-grandmother, Dora Jennings, who had Horace Clayton Yoakum, who married my other line of Jennings, Bessie Lee Hill, my grandmother. It would be wonderful to clear up the mystery of where these two sets of Jennings came from. There is also an Edward Ned Jennings in the early Claiborne records. I am wondering if Hezekiah or John S. could have been related to him as well. We seem to be able to trace everyone AFTER this - but not before. Thanks so much. I look forward to hearing from you. Ann