Martha Starnes b. ca 1839 in NC married in 1854 to Eli Linker b. ca 1829 in Cabarrus Co., NC. d. 1863 during Civil War. Several of Eli & Martha Starnes Linker's descendants have tried to find Martha's parents. She may also have married Calvin ALLMAN after Eli's death in 1863 (and possibly died in childbirth of a daughter MJ Allman listed in 1870 census.) This daughter, MJ Allman, presumed to be that of Martha Linker Allman was in the Adam Starnes household in this 1870 along with Calvin who had by then married LYDIA STARNES dau of Adam, but NOT a sister to Martha. What relationship, if any, exists between Adam Starnes and Martha is unknown at this time. Adam Starnes ancestry is also a mystery -- his wife was Mary Elizabeth FINK. In 1850 Cabarrus Co Census there is also a Martha Starnes 16 living in the home of Martin Widenhouse, and another age 15 living in the home of Henry Bangles. Either of these "could be" our Martha, however the 1860 census shows Martha Starnes Linker's age to be 20. ANY help with these mysteries would be greatly appreciated! Peggy Sue Wilson pwilson411@aol.com http://members.aol.com/PWilson411/indexs.html