Hi Shirley, At this point you are helping me more than I'm helping you. My basic source material comes from family letters which are now about 30 years old and documents research (not verifiable) by the wife of a first cousin of my mothers, all long since dead, The rest of my material comes mostly from "Chalkley" and from others on the list. I also have a book, "Gathering of the Clan" by Carl Steele. I have found the Carl Steele book of little use since he mentions the Steeles of Rockbrige/Augusta but does not tie them directly to his line. Carl Steele ties his line back to Alexander Steele, a famous Chief of Clan McGregor in Scotland. He has his Steeles coming to Philadelphia and then to Virginia. Again I dismiss this material, since it cannot be verified. In his defense, Carl's focus was on later generations of Steeles and he admits that his work on the immigrant generation is legend. Recently I realized I had never referenced all the citations in Chalkley for Margaret Fulton(s) and Margaret Steele(s). I have started to do that but am far from completing. I am a descendent of Samuel Steele B. 1709, and his wife Margaret Fulton (b. 1713?) (but Martha and even Mary in some sources). So far I have found no reference to a Margaret Fulton who would be old enough to be married to Sam. Sir Richard Steele (Ireland) was one of the great authors, publishers and Playwrights of his time. His death is mentioned in the preface to Boswell's biography of Johnson. However, I actually hired a genealogist in Dublin to verify the line and found that it was impossible for Sir Rich. to be ancestor of the Steeles in VA. Now I find it very interesting that s source sites a Richard Steele of Dublin as the father of the Augusta/Rockbridge Steeles. This would support the theorey that a Richard Steele of Dublin was the progenitor of our lines. This gives some shread of validity to the George Diehl book. This is the first time I have heard of the Diehl book and would be delighted to know where i could find a copy to read. I will try to order a copy from bookfinder. Does Diehl cite his sources?. Like wise was not aware of Morton. I do have a copy of History of August Co. by Peyton. Now, I realize that I am not being very helpful, and will try to come to the point. The Steeles in Augusta/Rockbridge VA tended to have very large families and to use certain names over an over through the generation. There is a theory that there was a customary naming pattern -- first son named after paternal grandfather, second after father, third after maternal grandfather. On top of this they ofter married first cousins, so the maiden and married names are the same. There are dozens of citations on Steele in Chalkely -- over a hundred on just the various Sam's and Andrew's. Perhaps someone has the time to chart all of the citations of their wills? Chalkley cites he will (1789) of a Sam. Steele. Benefiaries of the will are: Sam. Sarah Martha Mary James Andrew Margaret Looks like a perfect fit -- but means Sam of this will lived to 80 -- not very probable in those days. Never-the-less, it appear that the appraisers were Hugh Fulton and Robert Campbell which would be complete consistent with this Sam being the one born in 1709. Again,I realize that I am not being helpful. I have never researched Steele beyond Rockbridge/Augusta since the name never went further in my own pedigree. You have given me some new leads and I will continue to work on Steele. Thanks for your information. Regards, Ernest From: MIKESELL4132@aol.com <MIKESELL4132@aol.com> To: ebt@coastside.net <ebt@coastside.net> Date: Monday, October 15, 2001 8:33 PM Subject: Steele family Ernest -- Have a question on your Steele family. I am totally confused. Had been using Morton's History of Rockbridge Co, VA as a source and came up with the following family tree: David Steele died 1747, had ch Robert, Nathaniel, Martha, Jane, Isabella, Rebecca & Janet. Son Robert died 1800, had ch David bn ca 1755, Mary, Eleanor, Martha, John & William. Grandson David md your Mary (dau of Sam'l) and had Nancy, Samuel, Isaac, Sally, Isabella, Mary & Jane. Now another researcher sent me a copy of pages from "Old Oxford and her Families" by George Diehl which give a lineage of Jonathan Steele, a Dublin lawyer, who had a son Richard (doesn't say he's the "man of Letters" you mentioned. Richard had ch Andrew, Sarah & your Samuel whom he credits with two marriages, to Sarah Campbell and to Margaret Fulton. Sam'l's ch are James, Samuel, Andrew of the 1st marriage, Mary, Margaret, Martha and Sarah of the second. He says Sam'l's brother Andrew was the father of David! Steele who married his cousin Mary. I can validate both Andrew and Robert in land records mentioned in other sources. Which lineage do you believe is correct, David as the son of Robert or as the son of Andrew jr? I still haven't found a copy of "The Steele's of Steele Tavern" -- is it a very old book that perhaps either Morton or Diehl used it as a source, perpetuating the errors? will appreciate your sorting me out. Shirley Mikesell