Is anyone doing research on Blacks from the late 1700's, early 1800's in the Franklin County Pennsylvania area? My g-g-g-grandfather, Benjamin Lyons, (ca 1780 to 1859) was supposedly brought from Franklin County to Martinsburg around 1810 by Jacob Snowberger. He was bonded to Jacob Snowberger until he was 18 years old. Also, he may have been a runaway slave. The story goes that he found safety at Snow Hill (a cloister) and from there became bound to Jacob Snowberger. Benjamin ended up in Salemville, PA and eventually married Mary "Polly" Heck and bought a farm which he willed to his some James H. Lyons, the first postmaster of Salemville, PA (married Sarah Forsythe from Indian Springs, MD). Both Mary and Sarah were white and eventually most of the family "passed". I would really like to find where Benjamin came from and who his parents were. He may have been mulatto. I would also like to find relatives, any relatives, but especially relatives who are considered Black to this day as I feel they would still have the oral traditions and stories I need to get more information. Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Rose Mary (Jones) Graveline rgraveli@zoo.uvm.edu Searching for LYONS, HECK, FORSYTHE, BAPTISTE, CRISWELL in Maryland and Pennsylvania *************************************************************************************