This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Skeen, Wilson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/GMB.2ACI/740.1.2.1 Message Board Post: I can add some information about the Skeen family line that I am researching and a few other pieces of information, but I do not think that this helps any of us draw conclusions. Here is a collection of information from my internet-based research: The relation of Keziah Skeen to John W. Skeen is intriguing because, as you point out, (1) they had the same surname; (2) they were both in Winston County, Mississippi at the same time; and (3) Sarah Ann Skeen (nee Wilson) is found in the same household (of Frank Maxwell) as Keziah (Skeen) Tankesley in Attala County, Mississippi in 1880. This suggests a relationship of some sort. On the other hand, Keziah was born in Kentucky and her parents apparently came from Maryland (father) and South Carolina (mother). Saran Ann Skeen (nee Wilson) married John W. Skeen, who apparently was born in 1802 in Laurens, South Carolina (I have not been able to confirm this). One researcher has further traced this line to Berkeley, South Carolina (John W.'s father was born in 1765 in Berkeley, South Carolina), and then to Scotland (John's father was born in 1740 in Scotland, with his ancestors coming from Tapsom, Scotland). I'm suspicious of this information because three three generations! of Skeens were said to have married women with the same first name, Rebecca. But the South Carolina connection is clear, and this suggests that Keziah's Skeen ancestry in Maryland would have to be traced back to South Carolina to make a connection with John W. Skeen's line in South Carolina. There is another Skeen family in Winston County, Mississippi in the 1850 census to which I cannot make a connection with my Skeen family from Attala County (the counties share a border). This record notes a Kentucky connection (Keziah was born in Kentucky): 1850 census for Winston County, MS 30 321 326 Skeen Solomon 47 M Blacksmith Ky 31 321 326 Skeen Nancy 42 F Geo. REMARKS: deaf 32 321 326 Skeen Mary 17 F Geo. 33 321 326 Skeen John 15 M Farmer Ala 34 321 326 Skeen Jonathan 10 M Ala 35 321 326 Skeen William 9 M Miss 36 321 326 Skeen Frances 7 F Miss 37 321 326 Skeen Walter 3 M Miss 38 321 326 Skeen Nathaniel 8/12 M Miss I have noted (in addition to the information listed by Barbara in this thread) the Attala County, Mississippi census for 1850 also has John W. Skeen's family listed: 25 1028 1028 Skeen John 48 M . Farmer 40 S Carolina 26 1028 1028 Skeen Sarah A. 25 F . . . Ala. 27 1028 1028 Skeen Savilla 8 F . . . Miss 28 1028 1028 Skeen John W. 5 M . . . Miss 29 1028 1028 Skeen Solomon 4 M . . . Miss There are Wilsons listed in this census as well, but I cannot make a connection to Sarah Ann Skeen (nee Wilson). I have also found on the web the following marriage record. If these are ancestors of John W. Skeen, then the family researcher making a connection to Tapsom, Scotland is probably in error, since she has the Skeens coming from Scotland after 1740, but this record in South Carolina is for 1728. (Of course, spelling is irrelevant as long as pronunciation would be the same at this point in history.) South Carolina Marriage Record: File: SCMV053A.TXT Some 4,094 Marriages. South Carolina Mag. of Ancestral Research, Vol 5, # 3 (1675-1858) S500 SKENE, JOHN P456 PALMER, HANAH May 07 1728 There is also this cemetery record on the web: Carson Ridge Cemetery, Attala County, Mississippi. Those Who Rest at Carson Ridge Cemetery- Name Born Died Plot/Row SKEEN, Delilah 02-05-1857 07-23-1930 P40 SKEEN, Elender E. Burns 03-02-1878 01-02-1945 P42 SKEEN, Fannie A. (Died Oct.) - - P36 SKEEN, Henretta 02-16-1874 - P34 SKEEN, Henry 10-12-1872 04-26-1947 P41 SKEEN, Leuella Frances 11-26-1888 06-23-1920 P38 SKEEN, Mary Leuelia (Died Sept) - - P35 SKEEN, Mildred D. 04-12-1915 05-24-1917 P37 SKEEN, Sherry Lynn 02-29-1964 07-15-1965 V12 SKEEN, Solomon T. 12-24-1846 08-20-1928 P39 Another web reference to a Skeen cemetery gives location: Attala County Cemetery Listing MSGen.net listing of Cemeteries in Attala County, MS. USGS style: DD MM SS.S Tiger style: DD.DDDDD Cemetery Name Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude Area USGS 7.5' Map Skeen Cemetery N32 58 13.- W089 37 46.- N32.97028 W-89.62944 A4 Joseph Researchers in my family line will like to know the following website: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/5981/skein.html. It mentions the Skeen line of Amanda Bell Skeen, daughter of John W. and Sarah (nee Wilson) Skeen. I have not been able to verify the line earlier than John W. Skeen. A West Virginia line of Skeens that eventually goes back to Laurens, South Carolina (where John W. Skeen was from) can be found at the following web address: : http://www.grundynet.net/talbott/Families/Skeen_Anc.htm Hope this helps someone, Rollin