I would like to thank Mary Lou for posting this and sending the file to me. These Canter boys seem to be my Blacksheep, and now I know one reason I have had such a brickwall on tracing some of my Canter names! The brickwalls want come down if all is not exposed. One should never start genealogy research if they fear they will find bad. I am proud of my Canter name and find them to be here since mid 1600 and they have fought in every war from then until now. Two blacksheep out of all those is not bad, but I bet as I continue on there may be more. Sure makes for an interesting family history. Strange to meet Mary in my search, her searching for Maude Wilson, the victim, and me searching for the ones who committed the crime. These list sure work and I thank all who have helped me with lookups.

I had the same feeling when I (a total newbie to genealogy) came upon a letter submitted to Rootsweb from the Clinch Valley News in 1911. Ancestors of mine not only shot and killed each other, they shot and killed another man (in fact, shot him right off his mule)! Another ancestor from my clan was shot over a land dispute, and yet another killed a Tazewell Co sheriff in the 1800's. I know from growing up, some of the tales my dad and my uncles used to tell about the Lester's, but man, this came back like a blast of cold water to the face! My family tells the story also, about how my grandpa Lester was run out of Virginia due to all the carrying on he did with other men's women/wives, and the many children unknown (and known) to the family that were deposited over Lester's Cove, Swords Creek and general areas. I was also told (but can't find info) that my grandpa Lester stabbed a man to death when he was working on the railroad in Va. at one time. These were stories my mom has told me, while she listened to the Lester men talk about the family. She said the Lester men were very handsome, and were attracted to other women, as were the women to them. Of course, one wonders how much of this is truth, and what is lore? Coming from my dad's lips, and the mouths of his brothers, I might think there's some truth in it, or at least truth as it was told to them. All in all, it made me say "Yikes", and my husband said "man, what a bunch of gangsters!" So, you're right, if you don't want to know, don't ask, or look! Sue (LESTER) Patterson mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] Searching for: LESTER, SMITH, JESSEE, SHREVE/SHRIEVES TAZEWELL/RUSSELL CO. VA. LATE 1700'S TO PRESENT -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] I would like to thank Mary Lou for posting this and sending the file to me. These Canter boys seem to be my Blacksheep, One should never start genealogy research if they fear they will find bad. Sure makes for an interesting family history.