Hey folks... I was recently doing some research on the Hutchinson, Hickman, Nesbit, Wilson, Johnston, McClanahan families etc,. and I had no idea how inter-related they were...coming from Bourbon Co., KY and settling in Callaway, Boone, Clay, Cooper counties etc. The bios on the website for Bourbon Co., KY is excellent. These are the relatives of Daniel Boone - and it's a HUGE family. http://www.shawhan.com/bourbonfamilies.html I have been following the parents of Margaret Hutchinson who married Nathaniel Leonard at Ravenswood in Bunceton in Cooper Co. My ancestors were slaves in what appears to be a tremendous KY family whose ties stretch from Bourbon Co. KY to Pittsburg, PA and slave transactions in every direction. It has taken me awhile, but I finally have figured out that: Margaret's parents were Margaret Hickman and William Hutchinson -- they had 8 children: I ordered some documents via the Western Historical Manuscript Collection and it includes a letter from Hactier {not sure of spelling} Warfield to Wm. Hutchinson dated Aug. 22, 1882...he is the grandson of Lewis Hutchinson in Pittsburg PA... a son of William and Margaret Hutchinson noted above -- and he is looking for answers about his ancestors. Charles E. Leonard responds to Wm. Hutchison Esq., in 1893 that he knows little about the Hickmans. Another letter details all the children of William and Margaret born in Paris KY beginning with Jane in 1790. I will post this letter and its contents separately if anyone is interested. Let me know.. I can scan the letter or transcribe it.. it's four pages. FYI: Margaret's 1st husband was William H. Johnston -- his parents were Capt. William H. Johnston and Rachel Spears. William H. Johnston's sister Eliza Keller Johnston married Capt. David McClanahan Hickman. This lead me to discover that the Hickmans and Hutchinsons are a huge family related also to the Bass, Shackelford, Prewitt, Bass, Waller & McGavock... which in reviewing probate records etc., spans several decades of slave transactions between them all. I am somewhat discouraged. Interestingly enough Rachel's mother Elizabeth Spears estate was probated in Boone Co., -- the Spears have an interesting history. In an attempt to figure out more about William H. Johnston's mother Rachel Spears... I found a great detailed background about the Spears family.. and their connection to the Frys... amazing. http://www.shawhan.com/fry.html Here's a link on Noah Spears -- a son.. http://www.starbase21.com/kybiog/scott/spears.n.txt I went through the Boone Co wills and administrations and compiled sort of a family tree of transactions for Hutchinson, Hickman, Johnston, Cave, Keene, Prewitt, Nesbit etc. and a couple caught my eye and made me check into SPEARS more: Spears, Elizabeth - No. 261 - Will. Wm. Johnston, Robt. Thomas, Execs. Gr. Jan. 23, 1837. F.S. Feb. 16, 1848. Heirs of s. Solomon Spears, s. Abram, s. Noah, heirs of d. Rebecca Matson, dec., Elizabeth Grimes [m. Cuthbert Hickman], Sarah Jones, Rachel Johnston, gr. d. Elvira Thomas, Wm Johnston, gr. s., Jacob S. Johnston, Gr.s. Noah S. Johnsont, John T. M. Johnston, Wit. Z. Milloney and Jonathan Douglas. [Rachel Spears m. Capt. William H. Johnston] Capt. William H. Johnston's estate was also probated in Boone Co., No 907; Jan 16, 185. and the final settlement Feb. 10, 1854 -- I don't have these documents... but I would be very interested in slaves in the family for both. Son William H. Johnston proceded both of his parents in death... and his slaves went to his widow Margaret Hutchinson via her brother James Hutchinson who sold them to Nathaniel Leonard. My sense is that the slaves owned by William H. Hutchinson may have been bequeathed to him via his grandfather SOLOMON SPEARS and/or other relatives & purchases in Bourbon Co. This part of my research is daunting. A review of Boone Co., early estate records nearly blew my mind... the rental and sale of slaves and their children to family members and at auctions. I'm at a loss at the moment to tell you how unbelievable it all is... but if I could remind you all... who are researching MO ancestors, please keep your eyes peeled for slaves mentioned in your family records and help us [me and others] recreate what we can of our long lost families. Thanks. traci wilson-kleekamp african americans in missouri http://www.missouri-slave-data.org http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/topic/afro-amer/indexusg.html