Nancy Wood wrote to the list re my post on "Carden, Minatra, Birdsong, etc. from the John Robert Paysinger collection at TSLA"...PLEASE NOTE: There are MANY, M-A-N-Y, MANY other surnames reported in his collection. It's a real treasure for Tennessee searchers. >>>>>I am researching the Larkin Cardin family of Giles County. Two of his daughters md Birdsong. Also in my Huff line - James Valentine Huff (b 1841 Giles Co., TN - d 1906 Blossom, Lamar, TX) md Jennie Minatree/Minatra bef 1885. Jennie was b 3 Mar 1865 Giles Co., TN, d 29 Jun 1941 Lamar Co., TX. She had at least two sons and three daughters. One dau probably was Mrs. M.R. Geer, Route 1, Paris, TX who gave info on Jennie's death certificate. She died of organic heart trouble. Do you know the parents of Jennie?>>>>>>> 1. This manuscript collection is huge, covering 6 boxes of film. I searched just a part of one reel the day I was there. I have written TSLA to see if the paper copies are available for viewing. 2. I copied only the Carden, Minatra, Birdsong data that relates to my husband's grandparents and their descendants. My husband of course is the Minatra, his mother is the Carden, two of her sisters married Birdsong--the sisters, 70+ to 80 years old, are still living. 2. Larkin Cardin--I know there is much research available and others have already responded to you through the list. I do believe my husband's grandmother Mary Cardin (daughter of J.L. CARDIN) who married Guy Minatra in 1904 might be fron this line, but I haven't done any work on it yet. I would appreciate any information on this line. 3. James Valentine Huff--I don't have James born the dates you referenced, however, I do have THE VALENTINE HUFF FAMILY--Valentine Huff born 1770, son of Valentine Huff and wife Jemimah Hughes of Rowan County NC married Rebecca Jackson born 1783 in NC died 1857 in Giles Co. TN. This information along with the names of their children, including spouses, is a part of THE MINATRA FAMILY which I copied at the Old Records Department at the Court House in Pulaski. The last line on this family reads "Leodicy CARDIN was daughter of Larkin CARDIN." 4. My interest in the HUFF family is secondary as Sarah HUFF was the first wife of Elisha Bennett b. 1800, whose connection to my husband's family comes through his second wife Mary (Polly) Wright down through William O. Bennett of Bunker Hill, Giles Co. I will happily send you a copy of the Minatra papers, however, the information I copied at TSLA on the Paysinger papers is voluminous and it's going to be a while yet before I get it sorted. This family grows every day......it's getting so I can't keep up, but it's wonderful to have so many great connections like the Giles Rootsweb List. Julia SAVAGE MINATRA Rutherford Co. TN