Still trying to untangle the Madison Co Al and Dyer Co TN Pates. Please note all names involved.Pate, Willingham, Milliken, Long, Thompson, Clark, Rucker, Miller! Mathew D. Pate says in Chancery Court Gibson Co Tn in 1854 that he is in contest with Wm R. Nash. Mathew Pate of Dyer Co gives a deed of trust to Stephen D. Pate also of Dyer for 43 slaves. Stephen D. Pate died in said co (Dyer) intestate 2 March 1851-widow and children 8 brothers and sisters...orator Mathew D. Pate one of them. William Miller... a citizen of said county and husband of the sister of Stephen D. Pate. ((This would be Mary Ann Pate called "Polly" bn @1821 AL.)) Deed of trust to Stephen D. Pate, also of Dyer for 43 slaves. (My hand written note says perhaps three not 43. Meredith.) There are family stories that indicate that 1)Mathew Pate (who married Jane Milliken Pate, widow of Stephen Pate) had been married previous to his marriage to the widow and that there were other children of that first marriage. (This may be incorrect as this person also believed that Andrew Jackson Pate was the son of Mathew rather than of Stephen as has been proven by birth records.) Mathew is shown in the 1830 Dyer census as living with an older female 60-70 years of age, a girl 20-30 years of age and himself a 15-20 year old male, two 20-30 and himself 30 - 40. 2) His future wife, Jane Milliken Pate is shown in another house with herself at 40-50, two girls 10-20 and two males 10-15, one 5-10 and one under 5. This is bound to be the widow of Stephen Pate because she married Stephen in Al in 1814, had Andrew Jackson in 1815 (all documented) and then has E. Cain Pate (by Mathew Pate in 1831). WHO ARE THE OTHER PEOPLE IN HER HOME? James Pate is the son of Stephen Pate of the 1817((last will and testament of Stephen Pated dec'd. 28 April 1817. Certain property to wife until all the children come of age. Son James Pate. Son in law James Milliken. My 5 youngest children. All my children. Friends Thomas Willingham and Mathew pate, executors. Signed Stephen P. Pate. Witnesses Daniet Long. John Willingham, Ja Thompson. Proved 14 July 1817)) will in Madison Co Al (where all these people came from!) and is located next to Jane Pate in the 1830 Dyer Co Tn Census. He (40-50)has with him two males under 5, 1 10-15, and one woman 40-50, two females under five, and two girls 5-10. My Elizabeth Pate Clark (bn 1800 Tn)is in Dyer Co with her husband Henderson Clark. Her (believed) sister Susan Pate Rucker (bn 1805 TN)is there with her husband Zach Rucker. William Miller marries for the 2nd time Mary Ann Pate who is living with James Pate in 1850. (William is mentioned in the Mathew Pate Chancery Court.) Col George B. Pate marries Mariah , the sister of William Miller. It does seem likely that the court suit was brought because of the death of the several of the founding generation of Pates. Stephen is dead 1851, Elizabeth Pate Clark 1848. Any good ideas happily pursued. Merry Christmas you all! Meredith