To sum up 4 very well doumented & fun packed days will be difficult. But, here goes. 45-50 people attented from all over the U.S. We had welcomes, lectures, tours, good eats, discussions about the early Couch families (Ole Thos & Mary & their children & grandchildren) How they played a part in the history of the building of America. We were told about the migration patterns of the Couches. Their role in the Rev. War, Duke Univ. Univ. NC. Civil War. & famous Couches that left their mark in history. We had round table discussions about each of our families. We met new cousins trying to find that missing link. Some were successful ! Some were not. We had 2 gentlemen who carry the same Couch DNA markers but, not the name. Everyone had their own story to tell & each were interesting. We walked the path that Gen. Cornwallis brought in his troops, thru the Ole' Thomas ,Wm. A. & Samuel Jefferson & John Couch farms. They sent the young Couch boys out on horse back to tell the neighbors "Cornwallis & his troops were in the area", (appreciately named Cornwallis Road) The lands were sold 1947 to Duke University & the Couch track is now part of Dukes' Forrest program. We saw the Grave yards of many Couches. At Chaple Hill & the family plots on the farms. One was a newly discovered cemetery of Thomas Couch with over 200 plots of family & their slaves, in the middle of a forrest, miles ( :>] ) from the road. We saw the grave of Samuel N. Couch, father of Miss Sally Couch-Vilas, (a artist & painter) Who donated his Couch land to University of North Carolina. We were given copies of 2 letters from Duke & UNC telling how the name Couch was reconized by both universitys. Many of us had 'bruinwisk stew' some made outdoors. we ate at Mama Dib's & had our pic taken with her! What did I miss??? Feel free to jump in...... We were able to separated the 2 John Couches from Ashe Co.NC , Ky Couches & Mary Polly Boon(e) FROM: the Orange co NC, Patterson & Campbell families ! Children of Ole' Thomas Sr. & Elizabeth Couch of Bristol Parish, George Co. Va. Thoams Jr b.ca. 1705/14 William b.ca. 1709/14 James b.ca. 1797/14 Mathew b. 24 July 1725 John Sr, b.1726 Our future plans: 1, chronology all Couches by states prior to 1850. 2. contact websites overseas, (Cornwall, Devon,) England, Australia, Barbados. 3. push hard for (oops, let's say encourage) international Couch DNA testing. 4. search ship passager lists for names. 5. check colonal taxes, land grants & etc.... 6.keep in contact with Bill on [email protected] & keep updating trees & keep those e-mail address current 7. establishe a My Family site for the family of group # 5 Couch DNA & use often. 8.ad-void copy right laws...it was deceided 'All family material should be shared with all & encouraged to use." 9. pick a monitor, leader, chief, president, chair person, or what ever you want to call them. There are not enough words, kudos, thanks to express to the group that put this together. It was a totally awsome week-end. Jammed pack with information. It was very, very , very hard work. Much, much time spent on research, travel plans, tours. from the bottom of my heart, thank-you to each new Couch cousin I met. Till next time.