This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Madden, Yates, Farler (Farley) Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/3AB.2ACI/1354.3218.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hello Peggy, Nothing so concrete as a birth certificate I'm afraid. Its only through inference and circumstantial evidence. Luckily since the Madden name is not common in Harlan County it's pretty good evidence. In the 1850 Harlan County, Kentucky census Chamion Madden is listed of HOH with wife Sarah and son Achali (or Achalis). Their neighbor is Forrest Farley who has who I assume to be Champion's sister, Hester (my Great Great Grandmother) boarding there. Hester was supposed to be an excellent business women. Kizzy Madden doesn't show up in the 1850 Census (or the name is spelled wrong enough that I can't find her). In the 1860 Census, I can't find Champion but I do find Hester. Living with Hester & her husband Andrew Valentine Yates (30 years her senior, same age as Kizzy!) is Kizzy. Kizzy, of course I assumed was her mother but could be her aunt or some other kin. She could even be unrelated. I find that unlikely but possible. The Maddens seems to have come from Tennesee but in the 1860 census Kizzy's birthplace is said to be Virginia. I was always told that Hester was a Cherokee and so the Tennessee / Virginia origin (Appalachia) makes sense. And what seems to be their lack of 'official' records and their flight from Tennessee, speaking in a very loose timeframe here, in around the same time as the Trail of Tears make sense if the Cherokee story is true. I have never heard of Champness. I would like to hear everything you know about the Maddens as well please. Thanks. Best Regards, Andy