In a message dated 7/25/2003 10:17:21 AM Eastern Standard Time, shavq121@interaxs.net writes: > Sam was the brother of > Daniel and they were the sons of Gilbert who married Catherine Cooley. > We also have some first cousins that married, check out Sam and Saphrona. > His father was Gilbert and her father was Walter Walker and they were the > sons of William Cannon Elam. > I can't tell my Aunt's that they are still upset with me because I told them > their parents were second cousins. Daniel and Sam were brothers of my g-g-g-grandfather, Gilbert Ranze Elam.[sons of Billy Cannon] Gilbert married Ellen Catherine Elam, his first cousin [and 7th cousin] daughter of Walter Walker Elam who was son of Billy Cannon also. The name Daniel, I believe, came from Daniel Cooley, father of Catherine. I have this from James Cooley posted in 1998: "I have information that Catherine Cooley born about that time in VA. was the daughter of Daniel Cooley (he died May, 1812). Daniel Cooley's father was Thaddeus Cooley, mother Elizabeth from Montgomery and Wythe Co. Virginia. Thaddeus had children: Daniel, John, Elizabeth, Joseph". --------Anyone have anything else on the Cooley family? Anyone who descends from "cousin marriages" should google it up. Fact: 26 states allow first cousin marriages; Most people can marry their cousin in the US. Fact: No European country prohibits marriage between first cousins. It is also legal throughout Canada and Mexico to marry your cousin. The USA is the only western country with cousin marriage restrictions. <A HREF="http://www.cousincouples.com/info/facts.shtml">http://www.cousincouples.com/info/facts.shtml</A> <A HREF="http://www.cousincouples.com/info/faq.html">http://www.cousincouples.com/info/faq.html</A> Joanne