Thanks for sharing that with us!! I had never heard it that way before. Also, I wasn't aware of a Vance Family Association and I am the gr.++++grandaughter of Abner and Susanna... Diana Kinzer Heath ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ USGenWeb County Coordinator for: Roanoke Co., Roanoke City & Salem City, VA at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~varoanok/index.html Wood Co., WV at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvwood/indexa.htm Mason Co., WV at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvmason/ Rootsweb Mail List Owner/Admin for: VAROANOK-L@Rootsweb.com WVWOOD-L@Rootsweb.com KINZER-L@Rootsweb.com GRALEY-L@Rootsweb.com MILLER-L@Rootsweb.com GenConnect Surname Boards Admin. for: KINZER, CORNS & MILLER. MY HOME PAGE: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/e/a/Diana-K-Heath/ ***Proud Rootsweb Sponsor*** -----Original Message----- From: MDotson973@aol.com <MDotson973@aol.com> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:55 PM Subject: music >Abner Vance who lived on the upper Clinch from 1782-1819 is credited by the >SWVA FOLKLORE SOCIETY as having composed the first song, still in existance, >written west of the Blue Ridge. Sadly this was his death ballad written while >he awaited execution for murder. He was hung at Abingdon and is said to have >sung this song from the gallows just before he was executed. This song is >known as The Vance Song and sometimes as Abner Vance's Death Ballad. >Grace Dotson >Historian, Vance Family Association > > >==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== >#4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are >PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop >