This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McClain, McLain, McClean, Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/3kz.2ACIB/1031.2.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hello Mandi, Not seeing any info in your message about birthplaces or where your McClain family lived, I checked your postings and see only this one. Are you just beginning to research? Can you give me more information--like where did your John Henry and Annie's children--Luther Ross and Merle--live? Where and When were they born---even approximately if you are not sure. Or if you don't know, where was your grandmother born? Always begin your research with what you do know---like where was your grandmother born? When? What can she tell you about her parents? Her grandparents? and so forth. Even though she may have some family lore that might turn out to be wrong, at least it is a place to begin. I'll try to help if I can . . .even if your line was living somewhere else. My McLain / McClain / McLean (various spellings) line were in Arkansas from about 1850, and before that in TN, perhaps in KY and probably in IL, and I think they track back to NC . . . but as the family moved from place to place, they did not necessarily all stick together. It is likely that brothers, cousins, uncles went off in different directions in search of better land or adventure. Audrey