Hi Linda: I did notice some references to a Vardry McBee being in Sullivan Co., NC/TN in the early years, and also there was a Ross family or two mentioned. I will have to go back and make note of what I've seen on those two lines. Both perked my interest when I saw the names, since I have a daughter of the Vardry McBee in Lincoln Co., NC, (also held property in Spartanburg/Greenville Co., SC) {Martha Adalaine McBee b.1 May 1816 Lincoln Co., NC} who married Tench Coxe Carson b. 23 Jan 1810 Rutherford Co., NC - he was a son of Joseph McDowell Carson and Rebecca Wilson, dau. of James Hazzard Wilson and Rebecca Davidson, who moved to the area of Williamson Co., TN after the Revolution. James Hazzard Wilson was the son of Thomas Wilson and Katherine Carson. Katherine Carson being the sister of Col. John Hazzard Carson, of Burke/McDowell Co., NC, who married into the McDowell family of Burek/McDowell Co., NC. While this does not specifically involve the Sellers/Hall/Wilkerson group at that point, in a neighbor and historic context they do intersect. Choate's (Shoat) Ford was the principle crossing on the S. Holston river on the road that led from Morganton, Burke Co., NC into Washington District NC/TN and then into Virginia. This is the route that the "Overmountain men" took to and from the gathering at Sycamore Shoals to gather troops to march against the British at Kings Mountain (Battle 7 October 1780). The militia under Col. William Campbell of VA., Col. Evan Shelby who settled in what is now Sullivan Co., TN, and the militia under Col. John Sevier used this route to march to join Col. Charles McDowell's troops in Burke Co., NC. I have not idea at this point whether Robert Sellers or his older sons, or the Halls, were part of the Western counties (now TN militias who marched to King's Mountain. But something I consider a possibility. This route was also used by those in western NC as the easiest access into those Tennessee counties, and had been used by Daniel Boone as a direct route to the Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky. Sycamore Shoals was also a favorite gathering place for men in western NC to stage elaborate horse races. Sevier is well known for hosting these horse races, where heavy betting and drinking took place, and lasted for days. (If we described Col. John Sevier in more modern terms, the man liked to party.) This attracted men from all over the area, from Virginia to NC. There is record of one of the Choate's from Choate Ford, Sullivan Co. NC/TN being arrested and convicted of horse thievery for stealing a horse at one of the Sycamore Shoals horse races and then claiming he won the horse. John Sevier witnessed the incident and had him arrested. The McDowell's and their related family were considered great horsemen and breeders and didn't miss these races held at Sycamore Shoals. In a letter dated 16 May 1783 from John Hall to Micajah Merryman, et. al., in Baltimore Co., MD he writes: "If you had sent a full blooded horse out by Mr. Cox should have had many mares this spring. If you can send one of your colts this fall by Mr. Cox as he will be down after harvest. He will be of great demand for covering as full blood is in great esteem and not many in these parts." While this doesn't specifically address the horse racing passion the men of that area enjoyed, it does seem to suggest he wished to participate to a degree by at least using the thorough bred horse for stud. It is likely that the Hall and Sellers families were aware of the McDowell family prior to moving out of Sullivan Co., TN in the late 1780's to 1790 and resettling in Burke Co., NC where these family grouped were interacting more frequently. Where the Sellers and Halls settled in Old Burke Co., NC they're not far up the mountain from the families of John Carson and "Hunting" John McDowell, the first cousin of Col. Charles McDowell, et. al. As you mentioned these early settler families tend to swirl around each other and intermarry in subsequent generations! Over time I have just accepted that to find answers as I research these families I have to research numerous intersecting family lines. They are like following a Gordian knot and trying to unravel the secret to how to untie it..you follow one string and the next thing you know you are following another string and another and another and then you end up back where you started..so you follow a different route and the same thing happens all over again. I'll let you know if I find anything of use concerning the Vardry McBee and Ross groups in Tennessee records. Charmaine ************** Dell Studio XPS Desktop: Save up to $400 - Limited Time Offer (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222466512x1201463496/aol?redir=htt p:%2F%2Faltfarm.mediaplex.com%2Fad%2Fck%2F12309%2D81939%2D1629%2D3)