In reply to Jane: Thanks for the offer of the scan. But you sent your message to the list, and I'm afraid the list is set up not to accept scans. I would be delighted to receive the file at: jochurchd@aol.com I searched through my Hayes records, and believe I may have found the Lucinda Hayes whose love letter and braid you have. Well, actually, she is the only Lucinda Hayes I found. She would not have been born in 1846, but in 1886 she would have been about 29 years old. Who was your great grandfather? What were his dates? It would be most interesting to read the letter, if you feel you can share it. I'd be curious if there are any little clues as to her family, or where they met? Lucinda Hayes, born c1857, appears in the 1860 and 1870 Marion census household of James H. Hays and his 2nd wife, Celia Caroline (_?_) Hays. James H. Hayes died between 1870-1880, and his widow remarried to Stephen Calder who was born in NC. They are found in the 1880 Marion census, and Lucinda is in their household, age 22, single, named along with three of her sisters, as stepdaughter of Stephen Calder. I've no further record of Lucinda, but then, I have not looked. I've no idea if she ever married or not. I assume she didn't marry your great-grandfather, or you would have called her your great-grandmother, huh? :-) James H. Hayes owned lands and resided in Hayestown, in what is now Dillon County, Hillsboro Township. This is quite close to Gaddy's Mill. I believe from several clues that James H. was one of the sons of Drury Hayes, but have never found solid evidence of that. The name of James' first wife is unknown. She was deceased by 1850. In 1850, Nelson Huggins, laborer, was listed in the household of James H. Hays. In 1860, Susannah Lovette, age 64, was enumerated in James H. Hays' household. I've no idea of their relationship, if any. This Hayestown family (Drury and related) was connected somehow to the family of Benjamin Hayes, but were not direct descendants of Benjamin. I believe they descend from old Joseph Hayes Senior, who is suspected of being a brother of Benjamin, but again, no proof ever found. I, too, descend from this Hayestown family, as Elizabeth Hayes, probable sister of Drury Hayes, married Asa Brewer - my 3rd great grandparents. Two of their Brewer daughters married Drury's son, Ithamer Hayes. Both Joseph and Drury had lands on the back side of the lands of Barrett Barfield, Sr, their lands adjoining or near Barfield over near Colson Bay. They were also bounded by the Barnes family in that area - Charles and James Barnes. The branch through those lands, now known as the "Joan" Branch, rises in Colson Bay, runs through Hayestown, into Little Pee Dee River, and was called Barnes Mill Branch in the late 1700s to mid 1800s. I have not done intensive investigation on the family of James H. Hayes. But since I've never seen anything mentioned online about this family, and I have some information about them, here is a little family group sheet. JAMES H. HAYES born c1807-1810 died c1878 buried: unknown, but probably one of the cemeteries in Hayestown. Father: unknown, but probably Drury Hayes due to proximity, James' lands formerly belonged to Drury Hayes, James' lands bounded by lands belonging to proven sons of Drury Hayes, early census records, etc. Mother: unknown. married: 1/ unknown c1830, she died prior to 1849 married 2/ Celia Caroline (maiden name unknown) circa or before 1849, Celia Caroline remarried to Stephen Calder/Caulder per 1880 census. CHILDREN of James H. Hayes and unknown: 1. Elizabeth Hayes born c1834, 1850 census, no further record 2. Mary Hayes born c1835, 1850/60 census, no further record 3. Hardy H. Hayes* c1833/35 - c1912/13 (record contradictory), mar Rosady Watts 4. Sarah Hayes born c1838, 1850 census, no further record 5. Lindsey Ann Hayes born c1841, 1850/60 census, no further record CHILDREN of James H. Hayes and Celia Caroline (_?_): 6. James (Kelly?) Hayes born c1849 (mar Rena Rogers? conflicting data) 7. John L.B. Hayes born c1851, no further record 8. Alexander Z. Hayes** born c1852, 1880 census #350, no further record 9. Anna J. Hayes born c1853, no record after 1880 census of Stephen Calder 10. Celia C. Hayes born c1854, no record after 1860 census 11. Lucinda Hayes born c1857, no record after 1880 census of Stephen Calder 12. Beedy Hayes, born c1858, mar (George?) Anderson 13. Harrison Hayes born c1862, not found in 1880 census 14. (W.?) Eliza Hayes born c1864, no record after 1880 census of Stephen Calder 15. (Louis? Hayes) (male) born c1869 no record after 1870 census LOUIS & LANIE may be the same: 16. Lanie Hayes (female) born c1870, no rec after 1880 census of Stephen Calder *Children of Hardy H. Hayes per his Bible record: 1. Celia Jane Hayes born 1856 mar Wilson Pridgeon 2. Alvia Gene Hayes 1857-1876 never wed? 3. John George Hayes born 1859 bur John George Cem, Hayestown mar Beedy Moody, dau of Chesley Moody & Amantha Lupo 4. Sarah L. Hayes born 1860/61 (conflict w/census) no further record 5. Neal C. Hayes born 1862 mar Liza Willoughby 6. Hardy Condere Hayes born 1864 no further record 7. Emeline S. Hayes born 1866 mar Maxcey Israel 8. Zebedee Hayes born 1868 no further record 9. Quiseta "Kit" Hayes born 1871 no further record 10. Gilbert "Gibb" Rodney Hayes 1874 - 1933, mar 1/ Radie E. Hayes, dau of Mack Hayes who was son of Ithamer Hayes who was proven son of Drury Hayes. Gilbert Hayes mar 2/ Beulah Finnegan 11. McKeever Hayes 1876 - 1896 **1880 Marion Census Hillsboro Township HH #350 A.Z. Hays age 27 Mary Hays age 19 wife Addie Hays age 7/12 daughter Enumerated beside HH #349: Stephen Calder. Sources: Early census records of Drury Hays and other Hays families. 1850 Marion Census HH #887 James H. Hays 1860 Marion Census HH #1612 James H. Hays 1870 Marion Census HH #216 James H. Hays 1880 Marion Census HH #349 Stephen Calder Marion Deedbook S/43, Drury Hays to Joseph Hays, 1840, $5.00 for 100 acres. Marion Deedbook S/41, Joseph & Mary Hays to James H. Hayes, 1842, $50 for 100 acres, being Drewry Hays land. Marion Deedbook W/408, James H. Hays to Celia Caroline Hays & her children; 1855, for love & affection for my wife; bounded by Barnes Mill Branch, Joseph B. Hays, Wilson Hays, Ithamar Hays; also house, furniture, livestock, etc. Marion Deedbook LL/394 for Anderson marriage of Beedy Hayes. Interviews with descendants of Hardy H. Hayes. Typewritten manuscript of Ruth and Pate Snead Bible record of Hardy H. Hayes, from a copy in possession of Silvy Lee Hayes Hayes, a descendant of Hardy H. Hayes. No further record means I have not come across any further record, not that none exists. I have really not looked for any of them any further. Jo Church Dickerson From: Femail85@aol.com << I have an old love letter written by Lucinda Hayse (That is how she spelled it), her spelling left a lot to be desired :-) It was written in 1846 (or could be 1886) can't really tell. She speaks of gaddys mill. She wrote the letter to my great grandfather :-) She braided a long length of her hair to make a circle. >>