Mardella, THANK YOU! I've be on this list for over a year, looking for a clue which you gave by your posting today. TERRIFIC! You stated "....This is what I have: John Thomas b. Wales, 1763, came to America 1773. m. Sarah Owen Harrison County Virginia Mary Thomas (their 7th child) m. Henry Thomas (Her first cousin!) They were the first permanent white settlers in Bureau County, Illinois. Austin Thomas b. November 28, 1826 Illinois, d. 1896. m. Amelia Thummel May 23, 1850. They had 9 children........" I am also a descendant of John THOMAS and Sarah OWEN by their daughter Elizabeth THOMAS, b. Jun 20, 1796 Harrison Co VA. She married John Luff (or Lupt) MEREDITH Sep 16, 1816 in Champaign Co OH. There were 4-5 John THOMASes in Champaign Co during that time, so have been unable to sort out which one was the real father, and where he went from there. I suspect, though, that Esther THOMAS, who married one of John Luff Meredith's brothers, Joseph Busby MEREDITH, Apr 1, 1823 in Miami Co, OH, was another of his daughters. The J.P. who officiated at both marriages was listed as John Thomas, J.P. Am very interested to hear what documentation or details you have on John Thomas' migration, their other children, and if you have anything on Sarah Owen's ancestry. Wayne Olsen Bonney Lake, WA 73732.115@compuserve.com Mardella Grant Stimac mstimac@att.net