Joel - the answer to some of your questions -- Deed records of Henry Co, AL - DB L, p 506 dated 11 Jan 1848 list the Legatees of Estate of William Pate, dec'd - signed by John Pate, Aaron Pate, Lovet Hinton, Charles Hulsey, William Shaw, William Pate, Thomas Pate and 7 children of Rebecca Pate & Jennings Hulsey. The maiden name of Mary, 2nd wife of John Pate is not known -- she md after John Pate died to John W Huff on 15 Feb 1860 in St Clair Co, AL. The children of John Pate, by his first and second marriage, are listed in his Will dated 15 Aug 1855 in St Clair Co, AL Says his 7 oldest children live outside state of AL and 3 youngest live with Mother, Mary in St Clair Co, AL. John Pate evidently went to Texas sometime before Oct 1837 -- Angelina Co, TX DB P, p 621 shows he patented 1,280 ac of land - proved he arrived in the Republic prior to 1 Oct 1837 and is a married man and entitled to 1,280 ac. There are several law suits over this land by the children of his first marriage - Part of the land was in Angelina Co and part in Jasper Co, TX - wish I had the records from Jasper Co - it may shed some more light on this family. Jinks