Hi, To add to what Cindy said: Marion Videau Singleton was the daughter of Richard Singleton, a wealthy planter, and sister of Sarah Angelica Singleton who married Abraham, son of President Martin VanBuren and served as First Lady for the widowed President. You can find her picture on the First Ladies page of the Whitehouse homepage. Marion is given a large share of credit for developing the beautiful grounds and gardens of "The Ruins" and perhaps naming it. When her husband purchased it, it was quite dilapidated, thus the name. She left it to her daughter Marion. Marion died with issue. Marion adopted her great neice Amelia at age 4 and left her "The Ruins" in her will. She married second Augustus L. Converse, a northern man with one wooden leg. He was Rector at the Episcoal Church at Statesburg, SC and possibly taught school. After Marion signed an agreement giving him a share of her wealth for life if he should survive her he bagan mistreating her and the daughters. Later she escaped and eventually dropped the name Converse. Some of this info is in the Historical Sketches of Sumter Co., SC. Tom Land -- When you shake the family tree wondrous stories pour forth! (Also some fruits & nuts!!) Tom Land [email protected] Searching SINGLETON, LENOIR, CHISM & VEST everywhere! Always pleased with new info, always willing to share. List Owner of the SINGLETON and VEST research groups. * To subscribe send e-mail with: 'subscribe' in body, * no subject or signature to the appropriate list address: [email protected] OR [email protected] Visit: My Family Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/8081/ The RootsWeb homepage: http://www.rootsweb.com/ The Official SINGLETON home page: http://astrodawg.com/gen/singleton/