In a message dated 9/5/98 3:08:12 PM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << I am from the Samfords in Shelby County (East Texas) and we have been there since before 1820. William (Little Billy) Samford came from Alabama before that. I know from the the newsletter that there are many Sanfords in the northeast as well. My question is: Has anyone determined if there is a common link between the two areas and who it is? I do not do this on a full time basis and I have only gone back as far as William. Ken Bush >> Ken- My Isaiah Sanford is a brother to your William. Isaiah stayed in Alabama while most of his brothers and sisters moved on to Texas. Absalom Sanford and Lavina Turbeville are the parents of Isaiah and William. Absalom stayed in Alabama and was living with his youngest son, Thomas Jefferson Sanford and his family on the 1860 census in St. Clair County, AL. (1830 and 1850 censuses find him in Tuscaloosa Co., AL). I have received quite a bit of information from other researchers that I will be happy to send you. I cannot prove anything beyond Absalom, but will be happy to share. It appears from what I have gotten from others, our line of Sanfords came from VA through SC, on to Alabama and Texas and who knows where else. The earliest Sanford ancestor that I have in my database was one William Sanford born in 1602 in Rappannock Co., VA. No record of his parents or when they came over. It would surprise me greatly if the Northern bunch is not somehow another branch of our line. Hope others have more info. Jean Coan