Karen, The earlier lines of Arthur Markham are not clear, and as of yet, no one has been able positiviely identify these early relationships. Many records were destroyed during the Civil War, along with records which may validate the claims of William & Fonda Markham. So it here that you meet with many, many cousins at the same brick wall, all working together to remove it brick by brick. I don't know if we'll ever be able to prove anything and there are many more Markham's than those you mentioned that may fall within this same family, but proof has not been found. As for the Bedford/Botetourt Markhams, most of the lines that come from this area, have been proven back to Arthur Markham who is found in Bedford County in the early 1800's. Some of John of Botetourt's children are still sketchy, but evidence strongly points his way. A few years ago, Melvin Markham uncovered a probate record listing the heirs of Thomas Markham & Penelope (Wilkerson) Markham which gave documentation of their descendants. This record was found in a shoebox at the Botetourt Courthouse, unfiled. How many more Markham records may lie in these unfiled boxes throughout the country, we don't know (perhaps a probate record for John listing his heirs) but hopefully someday, these records will all be filed and become accessible to us researchers. Hopefully, time and patience will remain on our side and these shoeboxes will someday take us a step further in not only identifying the children of John Markham but providing some evidence on his father Arthur and his forefathers. I know from working at in my local Historical Archives that there are many unpublished records that line their shelves and I would guess that it is this way throughout the country. I think it is these unpublished records where the next key to unolck the Arthur Markham mysteries may be found. The published ones seem to have been throughly searched. Keep your fingers crossed. Brenda Marble