Dear list, I just subbed recently to the digest but saw no traffic, so I resubbed to the list. I am in the midst of a book project on five complete generations of descendents of Henry SURBER (b. ca 1718 in Switzerland) who arrived with his father Henry and his half-sister Verena in Philly in 1735. His step-mother and a half-brother died aboard ship. From PA, they went to VA by the early 175X's, migrating up (southwest) the Valley to the Washington Co VA area. They went to Pulaski County in the very early 180X's. My research covers all surnames. I am also interested in researching all half- and step-siblings of the surnames below. My direct line went from Pulaski Co in Jan 1870 to Kerr Co TX. Does anyone have any information on how a family would have left Pulaski Co for the west? They took right at a month to travel to TX. I am interested in sharing information or answering questions about any and/or all of the below surnames: SURBER -- Swiss German > PA > VA SHIELDS -- New England/PA > VA HUBBLE -- NY > VA ca mid to late 1770s McCLURE -- PA > VA MINTON -- possible Melungeon ties? WATKINS/WADKINS BRYANT BASTIN/BASTON/BASTIAN -- German LEWIS some SMITH STARNS -- originally German STARING BISHOP BLACK -- possibly (Swiss) German SCHWARTZ? ... and many others I have lots to share on these names and many others, and lots of questions to ask. Thanks, Rick Carpenter