Doris, Actually I think "Uncle John" is really John Westbrook who I think (but haven't proven) is the brother of Mary Ann Westbrook. It is a John Westbrook who is the witness to the infamous transfer of property that Nicholas made to his son Everett - see http://www.thorntongale.org/Genealogy/Nicholas_Pyle/Nicholas_Pyle_Aug_ 21_1832.htm My interpretation of this facinating document is that it is sort of a traveling "trousseau" rather than the contemporary interpretation that it was an attempt on the part of Nicholas Pyle to hide his assets from his creditors - I never bought that one anyway because I don't think such a maneuveur would fly in the court system of the day and especially with the hardened frontier people. It seems that the items are those needed for John Westbrook to take Everett Pyle on a journey. Hope this helps. Thornton Gale Mr Thornton: You indicated that your JJ Poile was son of Nicholas Pyle and Mary Westbrook...I won't argue with you there (but would like more proof), but the "Uncle John" referred to in the story was certainly not John Pyle, 1796-1869, who was a brother to this Nicholas and was my gg grandfather. He was in Montgomery County, Texas by the mid 1830's - 1835 to be exact and he is too well documented to have been the "rover and adventurer" described. He was never in Ill, Ark or Tenn. And there's no evidence that a nephew, Jonathon Jackson Poiles came to Texas with him. He did, however, have a SON, Jonathon Jackson Pyle, born 1836 (my great grandfather) who married Amanda McLennon in Conroe, Montgomery Co., Tex. in 1856 and never ventured any further than moving to Kaufman County about 1859 and lived there until he died in 1920. I just wanted to clear this up on the list as there are many of this branch of the family who are online here and know of the well documented history behind our family. I personally think you have the wrong man. Doris in west Texas