I am looking for someone on this mailing list that is familiar with the Grafton and McDonald families in Union Parish. I believe they may be somehow related to my Great Great Grandmother Nancy Ann Tate McDonald McGarity who died between 1900-1910 in Calhoun Co., MS. The following is what I do know. My great grandfather was Uriah William McGarity who changed his name to John Richard McGarity and is buried in the Spearsville Cemetery. John Richard's mother was Nancy Ann Tate McDonald. Nancy was born 11/17/1833 in SC (believed to be Chester Co). Her parents were Reuben McDonald (10/26/1798 Chester Co., SC - 7/27/1868 Calhoun Co., MS) and Nancy L. Grafton (2/1798 believed to be Chester Co.- 3/20/1864 Calhoun Co., SC). I have a picture of Reuben and Nancy's graves. Reuben McDonald's parents were William McDonald (d. 1830 Chester Co., SC) and Nancy Tate (ca. 1770 SC - ca. 1881 Chester Co., SC). Nancy Grafton's parents were William Grafton (d. 12/14/1847 Chester Co., SC) and Esther Stormant (5/5/1785 SC - 2/16/1886 Chester Co., SC). These names were given to me verbally by my grandmother and the dates I have obtained from McDonald list. My McGarity ancesters also migrated from Chester Co., SC to Union Parish, LA. The naming patterns between the three families are very similar. Another sibling of Rueben McDonald's that married a Grafton was Margaret Ann "Polly" McDonald. Polly married Daniel Grafton who was brother to Nancy Grafton, wife of Reuben McDonald. My grandmother told me the story of an Aunt of hers that died while migrating from Mississippi to Union Parish. The family continued the journey and buried the Aunt once they arrived in Union Parish. I believe she was buried in a cemetery in Marion. Unfortunately, I never wrote this story down or had grandma take me to the cemetery. Grandma believed her great uncle, William Thomas McDonald, migrated to Union Parish, but could not find any of his descendants. I have letters describing her search. If any of this sounds familiar to any of you, please let me know. I am trying to confirm that the Grafton and McDonald families are the ones my Grandmother was looking for before she died. Shawn Martin smarcmar@aol.com