A cousin on the Sanders list writes Erastus was reputed to call himself a "Blue-bellied Yankee" whatever that means. Do you know? I had never heard that before as an expression.... but I have of course heard blue blooded... I hope it doesn't offend anyone... I just don't know what it means. When I read a good book and don't know what an expression means I have a bright graduate student and I ask him. He said the authors sometimes make them up as they go along. I know there are some names in the Ballou book that were given according to where someone lived or a nickname related to what they did as a hobby or occupation. Thanks, jes