>i am 73 and started teaching myself 3 yrs ago and took >on the computer at the same time. You are very brave and valiant, ma'am <grin>. A huge job well dared and well done! I'm hoping that Peggy or some of the other local researchers can make more real progress with clues on the kids of Douglas Phillips and of Mabel Phillips Luis in the Cleveland area. City directories, old phone books, marriage records, etc. Maybe through the church or the cemetery. And I hope they find more about Jessie and Bernard. All in all, I suspect that it would be exciting to have a few more relatives at the next reunion <grins>. I've about come to the end of the resources I have access to long distance. I would be glad to help puzzle out clues if you would like, but we should probably take that off-list. [email protected] >my mom's family >was slave and free right in this area.it is a wonderfull place to live and >talk about everyday..my dad's family was slave and free 150 miles away in >washington,va. problems for us lie in finding manumission statements and wondering >what slave ships we came in on because we came in and were given new names You've done much of the hard part already. If you have tracked both sides back that far, and in 3 years, you have done a truly wonderful job!!! Don't talk at me about skills, lady. You're doing it..... <grins>. Linda