Dear Jemima Gee, I have come into contact with a lady who is not of Ratliff descent, but her area in Texas is pretty full of them. She gave me a census report I believe from around 1830 to 1860, as I am waiting for date confirmation now. It is under Ratliff and reads this way. Ratliff, Guilford 30 M Farmer AR M. T. 21 F AR Job R. 6 M TX Joseph 3 M TX William D. 1 M TX Okay, I am taking a long shot here and asking you what you think. M. T., could that be Mahala Thompson Ratliff or Mary Thompson Ratliff. I think with the names of the children it is probably a Mary T. wife of S. Gilford Ratliff. The Date of this census will let me know which Guilford is being referred to. I will know more when I receive it. There were three Guilford Ratliffs I guess the reason I am talking to you, kind of rambling on about all this is because of the Diary you sent me and the question of how the Thompson Ratliffs came into being and the possibility of it having been a maiden name of one of my Great grandmas. (Don't know how many greats back). I do not know the maiden names of Agnes who was married to Job Ratliff and then their son Guilford married Mahala and no one seems to have a clue as to her maiden name either. If any of this makes any kind of sense to you, in your Thompson line that married into the Ratliff line and you are able to make a connection for me, could you let me know? Job and Agnes were married probably before 1806 in Virginia, and later moved to Williamson county Texas. They were in Illinois by 1806 and on to Arkansas we believe in one of two places, Van Buren, or Crawford County ? or both or who knows how many others before they made it to Florence, Williamson county in Texas. Their son Guilford.was born in 1810 in ILL. and they made it to Texas by 1821. Guilford married Mahala before 1829. But where they married is unknown, maybe Arkansas? I have no proof or leads. But if it turns out she was a Thompson, maybe you will be able to fill me in. This may be stretching my hopes as the family had named a male Thompson prior to her children (although she did have a son Thompson as well) Job's father John Ratliff had a son named Thompson, who was born 1798 in Virginia I think. And we have no idea at all what John's wife's name was. Just stuff to chew on for now and if you have some light shinning through for me I will surely be happy. Thanks ever so much. Kelly _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]