This is a longshot but I know thw Trail of Tears hit southern Illinois on the way to MO and AR. Is it possible that their earlier parents or relatives traveled west because they were of "color" and had TN-IL-MO-AR birth places on census records? I'm open to anything after searching this much. I've never heard of any NA or African but that doesn't mean anything. I have looked at the Baker and Guion Miller and Freedman rolls but still can't connect my MARTINs. There is a LARGE population of MARTINs in northern IL from Ireland and England and mostly came over in the 1840s. MANY of the TN/NC/VA/KY MARTINs have been in those areas since before the Revolution so their roots are older. I haven't had a sound clue to go on in awhile but I'm patient! lol Lynn