I received this information a couple of months ago from my Uncle who is a retired doctor. According to him Benny Merritt, who was Lloyd Shiver's nephew, had Marie-Strumpell arthritis of the spine which is generally considered a recessive trait. Below is some more abstract from his email: . . . I think but am not sure Uncle Lloyd and his wife were cousins. I know uncle El Shiver married his first cousin. My dad always said that his mother, though she was a Williams (Mary Elizabeth Williams Shiver), was some kin to the shivers (something like Uncle Lloyd`s second or third cousin I believe.) Remember Isaac sent his foreman out to find a wife for his son from among his relatives, and he returned with a cousin who married his son. I`ve heard of others in south Ga. but don`t remember who they were. . . . Mary Elizabeth Williams Shiver was adopted by Polly and Harmon Shiver of Camilla. I believe that Polly and Harmon are related to Lloyd Shiver's side of the family. All I know about Mary E. Williams Shiver was that she was born on February 4, 1864 in Sneeds, Florida to James B. Williams and Melissa Plair (Player) Williams. James and Melissa were married on February 3, 1859 in Jackson County, Fl. Melissa appears to have died shortly after or at the birth of Mary E. In a letter to her long lost half brother, Mary E. mentions an Uncle Leroy. Uncle Leroy gaves Mary E. to Polly Shiver. Does this thread tie in to anybody else's research. Kenneth Shiver kcshiver@ix.netcom.com