Based on the latest naming pattern puzzler, I got to thinking about one family that I have been brick-walled on for years. Can we assume that if in a family, they used a traditional naming pattern, can we "fill-in the blanks" on some of the brick-walls? Abner COOPER's (b Sept 1825 TN) parents have always been a mystery. From the naming patterns below, can I look to the possibility that Abners parents are named William and Mary COOPER? Here is what I have: Martha Helen COOPER (d/o Abner COOPER and Sarah WEST d/o Jesse WEST and Martha "Mollie" PRUITT) m John JC FLEMING (s/o Robert Russell FLEMING s/o David C FLEMING and Martha RUSSELL) and Martha Jane MARSHALL (d/o Reuben MARSHALL and Elizabeth JAMES). Martha Helen COOPER and John JC FLEMING had children (in birth order): Robert Russell FLEMING (named after his father) Abner Cooper FLEMING (her father) Mary Elizabeth FLEMING (1st name? and middle name after paternal gr-gm) John Reuben FLEMING (father and paternal gr-gf) Martha Jane FLEMING (mother and paternal gm) William David FLEMING (1st name? and paternal gr-gf) Fannie Rachel FLEMING (1st name? 2nd name?) Lula Helen FLEMING (1st name? 2nd after mother) John Graves FLEMING (was John Graves a famous person?) Thomas Richard FLEMING (? unknown names in families - a famous person?) Samuel Murray FLEMING (? unknown names in families - a famous person?) Henry Harrison FLEMING (? unknown names in families - a famous person?) Jesse McKinley FLEMING (? unknown names in families - a famous person?) Thanks for reading and giving me your thoughts. --GinaSmith@aol.com