I am copying your letter and my response to rootweb because my response contains a synopsis of info that may be of interest to other genealogists..... >Dear Mike: > When working on the Shannon's of KY please keep an eye open for what >we think are 4 brothers in the same area, Samuel, William Perry, >Nathan & Jesse. It was said that 5 Shannon brothers came to Vermillion >Co., IN from KY. >A girl named Belle from northern IL is also working on it. One county we >considered they may be from was Barren if I recall correctly. There were >tons of Wm.'s & Sam's, especially Sam's. > Haven't checked my e-mail yet as I have to pay each time I dial up >so I don't know if you rec'd my photo scan sent from my daughter's. I >usually try to get & send mail at the same time. I will keep you posted I have been looking for this group of names, however, have a great incongruency. I know that in the 1830 Indiana census, there were no Shannon's in Vermillion County. Samuel Shannon married Mahala Payton in 1835 in Fayette County (Connersville Indiana). At that time, he was age 17-18 and she was age14-15. By the 1840 Census, Samuel and Mahala (Vermillion twnshp) were re-located in Vermillion Co, as was John Shannon (HELT twnshp). Question: Did the brothers immigrate after 1840? OR did the brothers originally immigrate in and around Fayette Co. In 1830, there were no Shannon's in or around Vermillion Co. Closest Shannon families were in Hendricks Co. (John C., Samuel, and William). There were six Shannon families around Fayette Co. (In Rush Co.: Alexander and Henry, In Union Co.:John and Samuel, and in Decatur Co.: James and John F.). Now if we assume that the Payton Family was already established in Indiana in 1830, prior to the 1835 marriage of Samuel and Mahala, I find that there are no Payton families in Hendricks Co. in 1830. However, there are two Payton's located in counties adjacent to Hendricks Co. (G.W. in Montgomery Co., Jacob in Morgan Co.). I find five (5) Payton families (Abraham, Jacob, Samuel, Samuel, and Stephan) in Fayette Co. And in adjacent counties, several other Payton/Peyton families ( Charles Payton in Wayne, and WIlliam, Samuel, and John Peyton in Union Co.). Among the 1830 Payton/Peyton families, there are four families that had daughters in the age 5 to 10 range, i.e. Stephan and Samuel Payton (Fayette Co.) and Joh and Samuel Peyton (Union Co.). This is as far as I have gotten.......... More clues, please Mike