- Curious Fox Despite the somewhat unrelated name, Curious Fox is a new Web site of interest to both genealogists researching ancestry in the U.K. and to historians. I took a look at the site this week and must say that I was impressed. This site is rather different from most other genealogy sites. While it does contain local and family history, the Web site focuses on place names. All genealogy information is associated with a location. Historical information about each place name is available, with most of the data provided by users. Curious Fox is based upon a gazetteer of 50,000 UK villages, towns, and counties. You can search for the village name, generate lists of nearby villages and hamlets, and link to the exact location on a modern map or an old map. Each village/town/county has a page where you can leave genealogy and local history contact messages. You can also search by family name. The site has been set up by a husband and wife team based in Whixall, Shropshire, UK. The Web site has a rather unusual financial arrangement: you can either pay or not. The owners request that you pay a modest fee of £5 (about $7.50 in U.S. funds), but they do not require payment before you are allowed to view the data. However, paid members receive more privileges than free members. Curious Fox does not carry any banners or any other form of advertising for other businesses. The advantage of this system is that anybody being helpful doesn't have to pay a penny, but anybody wanting help can encourage responses by choosing to pay. It is completely up to the user whether to pay or not. However, at least one side in any message transaction has to be a paid member. The free membership lasts as long as the user wishes. The site has a "red box / green box system. Free members have red mailboxes. Only paid members can contact them. That is, free members cannot contact free members. However, free members are able to contact paid members, and paid members may contact free members. Paid members have green mailboxes. Both free members and paid members may send messages to green mailboxes. The advantage to paid members is that it is very easy for free members to contact them, and they are far more likely to receive messages as a result. There are several other benefits of £5 membership. For instance, all members can store a list of villages for easy access; however, only paid members will receive an e-mail whenever a new entry is added for one of their stored villages. Another advantage to be added soon: all members will soon be able to add URLs to link to other Web sites. However, a red URL (posted by a free member) will only work for paid members. A green URL (posted by a paid member) will work for everyone. Everyone can search the Curious Fox site by surname. The surname search only finds true surnames. That is, a search for the name Teacher will not find entries that refer to the occupation of teacher. You can access Curious Fox right now at: <A HREF="http://www.curiousfox.com/">http://www.curiousfox.com</A>.

I'm inclined to take a whack at this one, if only to have a mega-list of available microfilm to borrow at my local FHL. Maynard The Family History Library has just released a new version of their Family History Library Catalog on CD-ROM. This CD lists more than 3 million microfilms, microfiche, books, and other items available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through your local family history centers that are maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS Church. The data is current as of April 2002. Use of this CD-ROM at home can better prepare you for a trip to the local family history center near you or to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Armed with a "to do" list, you can enter the center or library and immediately tackle the tasks that you have listed in advance. Proper pre-trip preparation can save time and reduce wasted effort. You can order the CD-ROM now at <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/"> http://www.FamilySearch.org</A>.

Info: they say if you are already a registered owner of 9.0 you can get 10.0 for ten bucks off; i. e. 19.95 if you order before 8/20.......which is not to say they won't be selling it for 19.95 anyway. Maynard Genealogy.com’s new Family Tree Maker version 10.0 was mentioned in last week’ s newsletter. The company demonstrated the program in their booth. The product is in the "production house" right now, and copies should start appearing on retailers’ shelves within a week or two. Look for a review soon in this newsletter.

In a message dated 8/10/2002 2:10:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > Subj:Just wondering? > Date:8/10/2002 2:10:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time > From:<A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A> > > Hi folks, > Got a newspaper clipping from sister Martha in Kings Mountain, NC that > appeared in one of their local papers, - "The Shelby Star" of Shelby, NC, > on August 2, 2002. > > The article under the title "Eugene Peterson parapharases the Bible in > every day language" written by Tom Laceky, Associated Prfess Writer -- > > I wont quote the full article, but in the text is '2' paragraphs as > follows: > > quote: .... "Vern Poythress, a New Testament professor at Westminister > Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pa., says he and fellow conservatives may > quibble with many of Peterson's renderings but have leveled few attacks > because "The Message" isn't a Bible and isn't presented as such. > He sees it as useful for evangelism amoung people who know nothing > about the Bible, so long as they realize it's merely one writer's > interpretation of the biblical message. He says Peterson's work is at the > far end of the spectrum, not only in paraphrasing but coltural updating." > .........unquote > Now my Dad would say "Vern, being a professor at a seminary simply could > not have been any kin of his!" > > What say you folks? Any connections with this fellow that you know of? > Bud > > > Bud: nope not a chance he is kin to we Pharisees. I even asked him once. > His name is all over just about any search engine you can find. He is > widely published and very much in the thick of matters theological which > are usually a free for all among academics. I would be proud to claim kinship given his theology. He is so conservative he actually uses good King James' version and eschews the new, modern and revised (aka Hip Hop) Bible. Maynard

Elaine, These census records can certainly present inconsistencies. I think that David and Lewis (his candidate father) never wandered too far from the Mecklenburg area. In perusing my research on David Poythress I find him first on the 1840 census as "David Portress" in Mecklenburg, VA along with Lewis and James. He appears next on the 1850 Mecklenburg, VA census and here lists his birthplace as VA. In the 1860 NC census he is living in Warren Co. NC and lists his birthplace as Mecklenburg, VA. And this interesting portion of a letter written by Carl H. Poythress to his niece Annie G. Poythress Shamburger, dated March 1, 1967: "My father [James Speed Poythress] was born near Petersburg, Virginia, Sept. 24, 1829 -he came South in the mid-forties to fight in the Mexican war; on returning to Virginia he passed through the black-belt of Alabama, and saw the richness of the soil that a few years later he returned to that territory and settled near Greensboro, Alabama." "My father's people all lived in Virginia; he [James Speed] had a half-brother named Charlie Poythress and he had a son named James who came to Meridian and lived with us a few months, tried to railroad but didn't like it so returned to Virginia; he is the only one of my father's family that we ever met." Hope this helps. Best, Barbara (BPW)

Elaine & all, I'm about to be out of email touch for a couple of days myself & am really short on time now, but the short answer is that in the 1920 Census, when James Speed Poythress was age 90, I suspect that perhaps his hearing or speaking or both might have contributed to some confusion in whose birthplace he & the Census-taker were talking about. (& I guess it is even possible that at age 90, JSP was no longer sharp as a tack mentally, but I'll yield to someone from that family line who may know better about that possibility) At any rate, I haven't found many traces of any Poythress in Alabama or MS before James E. Poythress got there in about 1853. There was one, Littlebury Poythress, at some point I think earlier, in some further-over part of MS, but I've seen no indication of male descendants from him; think he just had one daughter who married a Bell, it seems like, from an estate or some similar record we've seen. And in the Sumter Co, AL - Lauderdale Co, MS area (adjacent counties) there was an earlier "Ben Portis" but I've never been able to find anything to tie him to the family. Since my own grandfather was a Nathan Poythress, and one of his father's brothers was a Nathan Poythress who died during the Civil War (never married; no descendants), I've always kept a sharp eye out for other Nathan Poythresses, but I've not seen any others in AL or MS. BP

Hello to all. I was looking at the 1920 census images of Lauderdale County, MS. I found James S. Poythress listed and he gives his father and mother's place of birth as Alabama. Now if David Poythress born 1800-1806 is the father of James Speed Poythress as we all firmly believe, James is saying David was born in Alabama. James list his own place of birth as Virginia. So I take that to mean that David moved to Virginia, as we know he was in Virginia, and James was born there. Now for the big headache!! The direction we have been going, as to the father of David is, Lewis born 1765-1775 or there about. Now we have never seen any documentation that Lewis was anywhere other than Virginia. Are ya with me so far? So who was in Alabama 1790-1800 there abouts, that could possibly be David's father? As it has been said before, my Grandfather Carl H. Poythress said one of his grandfather's was David and his other was Nathan. And if I am not mistaken there is a list member who is also searching for a Great or GG Grandfather named Nathan. Correct me if I am wrong. Has anyone ever found Poythress' in Alabama Pre 1860's when James Edward showed up in Sumter? Is there any way to get census records for 1790-1800 for Alabama? I hope this made sense. I think I even confused myself again.Ok, What do ya think? Could any of this be possible. You all have been at this alot longer than I have. Should we change direction on the father of David? Do you think the census is wrong? Maynard you may never get a new PC again. How dare you!!! It will be at least 2 or 3 days before I get the pleasure of your imput on this. BPN I know you should have some interest in this and can give me your great insight and wisdom as to the importance or NOT into this issue. I look forward to hearing the opinion of all our List Members. Great Minds Accomplish Much. Take care. Elaine

Thanks, Maynard & Debbie, for the info. BPN

Shutting down to install my new PC which is scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Be back with you in a couple of days. Maynard

Debbie: Yes 'mam. Eva Poythress was my aunt. She was the sister of my father and was born in Screven County and lived there all her life. Her three children are all still alive and the oldest, Wendell, is now the official patriarch of the Screven County Poythress-Wells reunion (an honor obtained by outliving whomever had previously been oldest so it is not especially a hotly pursued title given what it leads to. <g>) In the "images" section of the Poythress webpage under Horace Cullen Poythress and family, Eva is the little girl of 6 years on the far left. I'm just a little surprised that Bill Reeves "picked her out of a crowd" so to speak, Eva is usually shown with siblings almost every place I have seen her. Here is the description line on that generation which is well documented. 18. Horace Cullen (1) POYTHRESS. Son of John Maner POYTHRESS & Rhoda E. GROSS. Born 23 Jan 1867 in Screven County, Georgia. Died 6 Jun 1918 in Screven County, Georgia. Buried in McBride Meth. Church Cemetery, Sylvania, Ga. Occupation Farmer. See photos of tombstones for Horace Cullen Poythress and Flossie O. Wells, McBride Methodist Church Cemetery, Screven County, Georgia. He first married Mary E. MERCER, daughter of Edna A. MERCER, 30 Jan 1890 in Screven County, Georgia. Born 10 Mar 1846. Died 16 Dec 1899 in Screven County, Georgia. Buried in Gross Family Cemetery, Sylvania, Georgia. Photostat of marriage license for Mary E. Mercer and Horace Cullen Poythress in files. Ordinary: M. M. Potter; Preacher: N. J. Flanders. Gross Family Cemetery (Mary E. Mercer) is located 1.5 mi. N. of McBride Methodist Church, Screven County, Georgia...in old field left of Conner Landing Road. Tombstone inscription: Mary E. Poythress nee Mercer, Born 10 Mar 1846, died 16 Dec 1899; "He giveth His Beloved Sleep". He second married Flossie O. WELLS, 3 Oct 1900 in Screven County, Georgia. Born 8 Oct 1878 in Screven County, Georgia. Died 7 Nov 1914 in Screven County, Georgia. Buried in McBride Meth. Church Cemetery, Sylvania, Ga. They had the following children: 26 i. Helen POYTHRESS 27 ii. Etta POYTHRESS 28 iii. Mattie Eva POYTHRESS 29 iv. Horace Cullen2 POYTHRESS 30 v. John Maner POYTHRESS 31 vi. Trudy Edith POYTHRESS 32 vii. Elwin Matthew POYTHRESS 33 viii. Myrtice POYTHRESS 34 ix. Juanita POYTHRESS All of the siblings and their spouses are now dead. The last, Dorothy, wife of Elwin Matthew Poythress, died last week at age 91. She by far had out lived all the others. Eva's husband, my Uncle Charlie, broke the code on coining money. When Union Bag Co. built the first slash pine pulp paper mill in Savannah, they were contracting for cut pine tree suppliers. The deal was for "x$" amount of "cord feet" (or however they measured the stuff) and the supplier got to keep the land at the end of the deal. (Usual corporate brains and foresight in action). Charlie Austin borrowed enough money to buy a couple of pulp wood trucks and some chain saws, hired a bunch of "chain saw operators" and went into business. He racheted himself up into being the prime supplier and never sold an acre of the land. He wound up with about 12,000 acres at the time he died in 1972. A cousin and I at ages about 9 through 11 spent several weeks each summer with Charlie Austin as he managed his business interests all over Screven and Effingham counties. It was every bit as Faulknerian as it sounds. Maynard

Lorene Poythress, second wife of Carl Hutton Poythress Jr. died today in Hattisburg Mississippi. Elaine

Hello All! I have a question I hope someone out there can answer for me. I got a descendant chart from Bill Reeves last year and I can't identify who this Eva Poythress belongs to, as he didn't list her parents. Eva Poythress born 27 Feb 1903 Screven Co died 17 Nov 1979. She married Charlie Myers Austin 30 July 1025 in Screven Co. He was the son of John Austin and Effie Hodges and he was born 8 Sept 1902. Their children are: Charles Wendell Austin Evelyn Grace Austin Iris Elena Austin Can anyone shed any light on this for me so I can get her in the right family group? Thanks in advance. Debbie _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com

I am having a new Dell delivered and installed sometime in next couple of days and my grandson will get this PC. I am also in the middle of trying to settle some immediate affairs for a friend who died yesterday. I drew the short straw earlier and am the executor of his will and the heirs are clueless....oh joy! Bottom line, I'll probably be on another planet for next few days so hold up a week on anything specifically for me. Many thanks, Maynard P. S. BPN....nice analysis on that Peter Poythress guy, I'm still mulling it.

Debbie......I'm sorry. I wasn't keeping Christine under wraps. She is a legit concert artist of reknown. And her AOL name, aviddiva, first attracted me as I am always on alert for palindromes. If I'm not mistaken, she is already on the list and I hope you two can make some hay off the "Warren" connection. Maynard

Maynard & all, Agreed; we do know that folks were much more mobile in the late 1700s & early 1800s than many people realize. And agreed; we have no way of absolutely knowing whether the Peter Poythress of the War of 1812, was identical to, or different from, the Peter Poythress, son of Meredith/Meridith Poythress, who I had mentioned that was listed with Meredith Poythress, his father in Mecklenburg County, Virginia tax records. The Peter, son of Meredith, from the tax records certainly appears to be the Peter whose record you found in the Screven Co, GA Book A-2, p. 182, in 1809 conveying land & mentioning his father Meredith Poythress. To refresh memories, the info about Peter Pothress/Poythress who was enlisted in the War of 1812 was transcribed in my 10 July message from the Register of Enlistment, Micropublication M-233, roll 10; National Archives, Washington, DC, "Registers of Enlistment In the U.S. Army 1798-1914, Volumes 19 & 20 (P-R), 1798-May 17, 1815." Entry 2835 was for Pothress / Poythress, Peter, who indicated he was born in Dinwiddie, VA and that he was age 32 at time of enlistment at Danville, VA on Aug. 9, 1814, which would mean he was born in about 1782, or so. This Peter was the same Peter as the Peter whose widow Lilly got land in Arkansas (see my 7/25/02 transcription of the pertinent General Land Office record, message captioned "Peter Poythress, dec'd in War of 1812, possibly son of Meredith, Sr"). Upon looking at the notes I made when examining (some years ago) the Mecklenburg Co, VA Personal Property Tax records, I'm still cautious that this Peter from the War of 1812 records, could be the same Peter or could be a different Peter from the Peter Poythress who was son of Meredith/Meridith Poythress/Poytress. The Mecklenburg Co, VA Personal Property Tax records began in 1782. Of course, in those old handwritten records we are lucky just to find an indication of any relationship for a second male's name in the household. Certainly no date or place of birth is included for anyone. One can make some assumptions on the rough age of the second male in the household, based on which year he begins to be listed by name [i.e. when he becomes of tithable age]. Initially in the 1782 tax records, the pertinent column-heading was for "number of free males over 21." By 1790, that column's heading was "number of free males over 16." My notes indicate that in 1801, the column-heading was again "number of free males over 21" but I am not sure which year the column-heading (& the tithable age) changed because not every year of the Mecklenburg PP Tax records actually had the column-heading written out; the records are not on pre-printed forms until many, many years later. Meridith Poythress (Sr., per Maynard's info) first appeared on the Mecklenburg Co, VA Personal Property Tax records in 1786. Prior to then, the only time I saw the "Poythress" name in those records was an intriguing listing in one year -- 1782 -- for a "Poythress Clayton" (and I note here that "Clayton" is a common spelling variation for "Cleaton.") From how the other names were listed, it appears that Clayton was the surname & Poythress was the given name. Meridith (spelled consistently with "i" after the "r" in these records) was the only Poythress/Poytress I found on the lists for the following years (and he was the only free male listed for his own household for these years): 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 and 1794 Then in 1795, we began to have listings in Mecklenburg County for households for both Meridith and Lewis. Meridith continued to be listed every year through 1801. Listed in Meredith's household in 1800 and in 1801 (and only for those 2 yrs) were two tithables, with the second being specified as "son, Peter." Thus we can conclude that Peter came of age for being counted (i.e. "tithable") in 1800. I do not know if the tithable age in 1800 was still "over 16" but if so, that would indicate that Peter was born about 1783 or so. If the tithable age was already changed back to "over 21" Peter would've been born about 1779 or so. By Peter being listed in 1801, when I am confident the tithable age was "over 21," it would appear that Meridith's son Peter was born at least by about 1780 or so. We must remember that people in general back then were less clear & consistent about their ages, as well as on the spellings of their names. Meridith did not appear again after 1801, in the lists that I examined through 1850. Peter never appeared as head of a household in Mecklenburg County. (By the way, Lewis was not listed in 1796 or in 1801, though he was listed 1797 through 1800. Then from 1802, Lewis continued to be listed in most of the years' lists that were filmed for that part of the county through 1845.) Another by the way: at least in 1801 there was also on the same Mecklenburg PP Tax List, a man named "David Meredith." I don't know from my notes whether he was listed in other years. When wheeling thru microfilm, year to year, it is difficult to remember to stop at various points in the alphabet to check for various surnames, and I may not have remembered to even look in the "M" sections for other years before or after 1801. Further examination of these tax lists would obviously help, as would looking at the ones of other counties to determine if Poythress folks (including a Peter) were in other counties. It would also help to look at whatever is needed to determine for sure what the tithable age was in various specific years. The Family History Library (FHL) microfilm numbers for Mecklenburg Co, VA Personal Property Tax records are as follows: for 1782-1800 FHL film #511,950 for 1782-1805 FHL film #1,854,098 for 1806-1828 FHL film #1,854,099.

Debbie, I believe this to be John White Poythress, the first son of Meredith Poythress, Sr. and his second wife, the widow Hester Wilder Mock. Reasons: 1) John Maner Poythress (Co D, 47th GA Inf. "Screven Guards") was always clearly identified as John "M." Poythress in all his CSA records. 2) John M. Poythress, to our knowledge, never left Screven County, enlisted there and returned there upon parole. 3) John White Poythress (the only other "John" around) is vaguely believed to have gone to Effingham County as he disappears from Screven and later shows up in some connection with that North Newington Baptist Church. This church is actually in Screven but is almost straddling the county line between Effingham and Screven. Bud is likely to take issue with the assignment of Hester Wilder Mock as the bride of Meredith Poythress, Sr. and not Meredith Poythress, Jr. but we can take up those cudgels on a different thread if Bud wishes. <g> Maynard

Hello All, I found the following during a search for something totally unrelated and was wondering who this "John Poythress" might be as I don't recall any Poythresses in Effingham Co. Might it ring any bells for anyone? I was just curious who he was...Maynard or Bud, one of yours? Company I 5th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Cavalry Effingham County, Georgia "Effingham Hussars" Captain Henry J. Strobhar, Commanding John POYTHRESS enlisted in 1st COMPANY B, 25th Regiment, Georgia Infantry on 10 Aug 1862. He was relieved from duty by Conscript Act 16 Aug 1862. He enlisted in Company I, 5th Regiment, Georgia Cavalry on 1 Aug 1863, at Isle of Hope, Georgia. The roll for December, 1864, last on file, lists him as being absent on furlough since 30 Dec 1864. No further record. [MIL REC - GALLANT - HENDERSON] Thanks, Debbie _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

I am the great-granddaughter of Ella Mae Poythress, b. January 16, 1866 and d. May 13, 1937 in Orange County, North Carolina. She married Sydney Freemont Long. I believe her father is George W. Poythress and her mother Permelia/Pamela Susan due to Census records. I also believe George W.'s father is Edward Poythress and his mother Mahala Nance, again due to census records. I am trying to find more information about any of these families, especially Edward's parents (Lewis Poythress and Patsey Elizabeth Giles?) and grandparents. Any ideas? Thanks, Nicole Gooding-Ray

The below info was transcribed here on 25 July 2002 by Barbara Poythress Neal from info seen that date at the website for the General Land Office, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States Division http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ This particular record was located by clicking on "Search Land Patents" in the left portion of the green band across the top of the initial page. One need enter only his/her zipcode (so they can see how many folks they are serving from various areas of the US), and then, for the below record, enter ARKANSAS in the search block for the state desired, and POYTHRESS in the search block for surname. I would encourage anyone interested to go to the website & check all the states listed for any surname of interest. Note that the original 13 states are NOT General Land Office states. Numerous Poythress individuals are found listed. The site is extremely easy to use, and after viewing the initial info that has been entered for the individual record in the searchable database, one can click to see an image of the original document, in a choice of formats -- a small GIF; a large GIF; PDF; or TIFF, and can easily print the image. The description at the opening screen of the website states in part that the site is designed to "provide live access to Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States. We also provide image access to more than two million Federal land title records for Eastern Public Land States, issued between 1820 and 1908. Images of Serial patents (land titles issued between 1908 and the mid-1960's) are currently being added to this web site. Due to organization of documents in the GLO collection, this site does not currently contain every Federal title record issued for the Public Land States." Names: Patentee: POYTHRESS, LILLY Warrantee: POYTHRESS, PETER Survey: State: Arkansas Acres: 160 Metes/Bounds: No Title Transfer: Issue Date: 11/27/1820 Land Office: Arkansas Cancelled: No Mineral Reservations: No Authority: May 6, 1812: ScripWarrant Act of 1812 (2 Stat. 728) Document Numbers: Document Nr: 21831 Accession/Serial Nr. AR2960__.013 BLM Serial Nr: AR NO S/N Patent Description Legal Land Description: Aliquot Parts: NE Sec./Block: 27/ Township: 7-N Range: 13-W Fract. Section: No Meridian: 5th PM State: AR Counties: Faulkner Survey Nr: [blank] Below is Bpn's 25 July 2002 transcription of the associated Acrobat Reader image file (AR2960_.013.PDF) for the above-described document [note: portions below that are contained between asterisks (such as **) were filled in by hand in a pre-printed form]: **Ex'd, James Monroe, 13** President of the United States of America, TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING: Know ye, That, in pursuance of the Acts of Congress appropriating and granting Land to the late Army of the United States, passed on and since the sixth day of May, 1812, **Lilly Poythress heir at law of Peter Poythress deceased** having deposited in the General Land-office a Warrant in **her** favor, numbered **21831** there is granted unto **the said Lilly Poythress heir at Law of Peter Poythress dec'd,** late a **private in Peyton's Comp'y, of the 20 Regimt, of Infantry** a certain Tract of Land, containing **One hundred & sixty Acres** being in the **NorthEast quarter** of Section **Twenty seven** of Township **Seven North** in Range **Thirteen West** in the Tract appropriated (by the Acts aforesaid) for Military Bounties in the Territory of **Arkansas** TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said **quarter** Section of Land, with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said **Lilly Poythress heir at Law of Peter Poythress dec'd** and to **her** heirs and assigns for ever. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have caused these Letters to be made patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my Hand, at the City of Washington, this **twenty seventh** day of **November** in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and **twenty** and of the Independence of the United States of America, the forty- **fifth** By the President , **J M** **J M** Commissioner of the General Land-Office

Ancestry.com is offering a DNA testing for individuals for a price of about $200 per person. The method is they send you something like a q-tip and you swash it around in your mouth against the check. You mail it back and they send you your own DNA code. Obviously, $200 is something of a stopper. I don't know that we'd be doing it so much for ourselves as for succeeding generations. However there would be some potential present benefits for us even despite the fact that we can't obtain DNA samples from our people long dead. For example, Lyn and I might establish the link that we are cousins via Thomas Poythress. We might even be able to calculate (or have calculated for us) the amount of degradatiojn in the DNA reading as it passes from generation to generation. Bud and I would presumablly link back to Thomas via one of the Merediths, etc. etc. Another downside is that the DNA lines can only track parent-gender exclusively; i. e., none of the information for any of our males would be applicable for the females. But, of course, the females can run their own line, it would just be a separate line. Even though our records in general contain many more male surnames than female surnames, this might not necessarily be a loss. If we can document positively a particular marriage we could coordinate some of the prior or following genealogical lines even if they do cross genders. As a practical matter, I think we will have left enough documented evidence on ourselves, even if just hanging out there in cyberspace forever or on paper, that our downstream benefit would be a matter of personal decision on whether it's worth 200 bucks or not. I am saying if this e-mail generates a hue and cry from several of you wanting to do this exercise, I suppose I could say I have spent $200 a lot dumber over the course of my life and would be willing to participate. Maynard