Well, not exactly, but the discussion of Hewitt's legitimacy prompted me to report this. I've been stuck for years trying to trace my Ross line in Virginia. My g/g/grandfather James Anderson Ross (b. 1822) was a farmer in Braxton Co. but I knew that he was born in Bath Co. to William & Elizabeth Ross. I was making an assumption all this time that William's surname was Ross and that I didn't know Elizabeth's maiden name. Those assumptions were blown apart three weeks ago when another researcher working on a family that intermarried with two of James Anderson Ross' siblings (Corely) wrote to tell me the facts. It seems that Elizabeth's surname actually was Ross, and her children (Sarah Ellen b. 1812, Sophia b. abt. 1814, Rebecca, b. 1816, Benjamin Franklin b. 1818, William b. 1820 and JA) all took her surname. Their father was William DOUGLAS (b. 1767 Fauquier Co.), a wealthy landowner in Bath Co. William had about 15 children with three women. There is no evidence that he married any of them. William's DOUGLAS line is very well documented, since he is descended from Captain John Douglas, who emigrated to America in1654 and rose to political prominence. But now I'm stuck trying to find out more about Elizabeth Ross. Her parents were named Robert and Mary (no more assumptions!), and she died in about 1830. She was commonly known as Betsy. I have located an Elizabeth Ross in the Federal Census records in Bath Co., VA for 1810 and 1820, with the appropriate number of people in the household. She appears to be a neighbor of several other Rosses, including a Thomas. Does anyone have a clue about this Ross family? Any help much appreciated, even though I'm now "illegitimate!" (and I was even considering doing the DNA test - that would have been interesting). Regards, Dave Ross Portola Valley, CA David Lee Ross David Lee Ross Sr (b 1933) James Douglas Ross (b 1901) Harvey Oscar Ross (b. 1860) James Anderson Ross (b. 1822) William DOUGLAS (b. 1767)