Have read with interest Carroll's comments on the Brown site. As a result, I sent in my family info last night. Thanks, Carroll! Will breathlessly await all kinds of goodies! I noticed, Carroll, that you had quite a few Browns from the New England area quite early. I have traced my Browns back to 1797 in Packersfiled, Nelson County, VT. My gggggrandfather was John BROWN who married Joanna ? & had a daughter Joanna Heaton in 1797. This info was in the Town Records of Franklin, Belvidere Co., VT. I haven't yet contacted the NH Gen Society, which I am hoping could shed some light on who John's wife was & who were John's parents. In the meantime, I am searching these GREAT lists on Rootsweb! I'm sure you'll see my query on the Brown list, Carroll. Anyway, through the Browns (my grandmother was a Brown from IL) I am trying to find out if my grandfather, William CLINE was ever a bodyguard to the Tacoma mayor sometime between 1910 & 1930 in Tacoma. Our family was separated when I was just a small child, but have kept in touch sporadically with my siblings. This last year I have been in constant touch with my older siblings who have filled in geneo gaps for me. One of the things my brother told me was that a story our grandfather (William) told him was that he (Wm) was a bodyguard for the mayor & that he killed someone on the county courthouse steps during a threat to the mayor. Could anyone check this out with local newspapers? If no one has the availability to old newspapers or history, I have gotten the address to write to some of the old Tacoma papers. Just thought someone may be familiar with this. Thanking everyone in advance! Beth Rutherford Turner, OR