I finally located the Howel JOHNSTON cemetery yesterday and I was delighted. I found a local man in the Booneville area that knows those hills and hollows like the back of your hand. Let me say that he was my personal guide with the locals. The invitation was extended for me to come back for more in which I hope to do soon before the spring weather gets here. Well, it was like I was expecting, abandoned and the rock fence was broken in many places. There was one stone that I could read and it was of the son Stephen JOHNSTON and this was proof to me that I was at the right place. I still want to work on our abandoned cemeteries somehow and I was hoping to get started this month, but I am trying to take care of a 90 year old father that takes up a lot of my time, in which I am glad to do. We will get it started someday though. Howel JOHNSTON married Orphia NORRIS. I am still wanting to know more about Orphia, was she related to Ezekiel NORRIS that sold the land to the first government for the development of Fayetteville? The headwaters of Norris Creek are within close proximity also. Ellen Norris if you are still on this list are you familiar with any of this NORRIS family? I am excited about our upcoming CRC reunion in Lynchburg, June 11 and June 12, we are in for a treat. This is where our ancestors walked and there is so much to discover.

Bobby, I am sure you were thrilled to find the cemetery, yet probably a bit sad to find it in in need of such care. If you browse the Johnston cemetery again, please look for my Joel/Joe/James Ambrose Norris who was shot and killed in 1849. We just may find out one day that he is connected to Orphia afterall. No, I never found out any more about Orphia, even after enlisting Margaret Shutt's help. You and I have corresponded several times over the past 3+ years. My Norris has no apparent connection to Ezekiel either. I did find that my Norris went to Lincoln County, TN probably around 1833 from Wilkes/Ashe Co., NC and that he was distantly related to those Norrises in White Co., TN as well. Can't remember if you ever looked into those White Co., TN Norrises, but they were quite elusive - no apparent connection to Ezekiel with them either. So, if you haven't done so, look at Wilkes/Ashe counties, NC and/or White Co., TN. Don't look too far at those Norrises in Fentress Co, TN - those are mine and I think have already looked for Orphia there. There were some Norrises in Cocke Co., TN as well - can't remember if I had a connect with them or not. The key to finding out more about Orphia might be through her siblings, but if I recall, I don't believe you had any of that info. Keep digging! I am still trying to find out if you and I connect on through the Paynes. Our Paynes were Quakers too. Did you ever find any more on the ancestors of your Elizabeth Payne who married Jesse Brown in 1801? If you run into any more locals, ask about my dearly departed. He was on the Mortality Index attached to the 1850 Lincoln Co., TN census (Chestnut Ridge area) - showing he was shot and killed in October of 1849 (as if anyone on this list needs to be reminded - I have only posted this about 100 times). Oh well, just keep my inquiry a permanent member of the brick wall list at your reunions. Thanks! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Prosser Genealogy - Comcast" <prossergenealogy@comcast.net> To: <TN-CHESTNUTRIDGECOUSINS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 8:41 AM Subject: [TN-CHESTNUTRIDGECOUSINS] LOCATED ONE OF MY OLD LOST CEMETERIES > I finally located the Howel JOHNSTON cemetery yesterday and I was delighted. I found a local man in the Booneville area that knows those hills and hollows like the back of your hand. Let me say that he was my personal guide with the locals. The invitation was extended for me to come back for more in which I hope to do soon before the spring weather gets here. Well, it was like I was expecting, abandoned and the rock fence was broken in many places. There was one stone that I could read and it was of the son Stephen JOHNSTON and this was proof to me that I was at the right place. I still want to work on our abandoned cemeteries somehow and I was hoping to get started this month, but I am trying to take care of a 90 year old father that takes up a lot of my time, in which I am glad to do. We will get it started someday though. > > Howel JOHNSTON married Orphia NORRIS. I am still wanting to know more about Orphia, was she related to Ezekiel NORRIS that sold the land to the first government for the development of Fayetteville? The headwaters of Norris Creek are within close proximity also. Ellen Norris if you are still on this list are you familiar with any of this NORRIS family? > > I am excited about our upcoming CRC reunion in Lynchburg, June 11 and June 12, we are in for a treat. This is where our ancestors walked and there is so much to discover. > > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >