Greetings all... I would like to take time now to introduce myself to everyone... I am relatively new to the whole genealogy thing (I've only recently started researching in earnest), and would like to tell how it is I discovered my lineage was tied in to the Salem thing. My primary focus so far has been researching 'Twisdens' of the Marblehead area, but for some reason (which I was unaware of 'til recently) the relative who seemed to keep showing up was Sarah Nurse (m. Michael Bowden 12/15/1669). Sarah was the daughter of Rebecca Towne, of Salem infamy. I can trace myself back to Rebecca through the Bowden line right up to my great-grandmother. For those who are interested, the breakdown is: 1 Rebecca Towne (1620/21-1692) m. Francis Nourse (1617/18-1695) 2 Sarah Nurse (1651-1754) m. Michael Bowden (1669-1740) 3 Samuel Bowden (1680-1737) m. Mary Webber (1673/74-1737) 4 Samuel Bowden (1712-bet 1744&1759) m. Sarah Twisden (1713-1733/34) 5 Twisden Bowden (1744/45-?) m. Sarah Orne (1745/46-?) 6 Joshua Orne Bowden (1779-1843) m. Elizabeth Standley (1777-1849) 7 John Bowden (1818-?) m. Unknown 8 John Bowden (?-?) m. Persis Harriet Swett (1874-?) 9 Gertrude Bowden (?-1959) m. Ellis M. Pearce (?-?) 10 Gertrude Ellen Pearce (1908-1983) m. John Joseph Roberts (1903-1968) 11 John David Roberts (living) m. Jane Leonie Wiefek (living) 12 John David Roberts (me!) - unmarried As you can see, there are a LOT of holes in what information I do have, but it is certain I am descended from Twisden Bowden, through Joshua O. Bowden, Sr. and I do know that Gertrude Bowden was descended from two John Bowdens and Joshua O. Bowden (who was an officer in the army, he supposedly commanded the fort at Plymouth briefly during the War of 1812), thus, I determined through birthdates that this had to be who fit where. Of course, I *could* be wrong, I have not had a chance to talk to my great-uncle yet to take a look at the family bibles and all, but its a 99% definite of what I have here. The Bowdens still live in the Salem/Marblehead area as well. My grandmother was the first to *not* live in Massachusetts in her clan. Of course, if anyone has any corrections or whatnot for me, or wants to see what I have accumulated so far about Sarah Nurse's descendants, feel free to ask <g>. - Jody Roberts - -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.user1.netcarrier.com/~jroberts ICQ UIN 1362302