Anne, This may not be useful, but in the interests of full disclosure wanted to add: Last year, I had occasion to read through 38 years (1845-1883) of quarterly conference minutes of the Tompkinsville Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for some research I was doing. These conference meetings were attended mostly by the clergy and lay officers of the Circuit, and these were the names most likely to be listed. I don't recall ever seeing William Howard's name mentioned. This presents several possibilities: 1. Howard could have been a Methodist, but not an elder or preacher or steward. 2. He could have been performing marriages as a JP rather than as a clergyman. 3. He could have been a Methodist clergyman, but have left the M.E. Church, South at the time of the 1845/46 split over slavery. The William Howard who freed his slaves in 1846 in Monroe County might fit this scenario. 4. He may not have been a Methodist at all, but a Baptist or Church of Christ (Campbellite) clergyman instead. I hope you'll share with us your findings, if you do eventually turn-up the truth about William Howard! best wishes, Charles R. Arterburn ____________________________________________________________________________________ 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with the Yahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#news