Interesting story, Linda. I was born and reared in Buda, Hays County TX, and knew a family named Mayes. There were also a Meeks family living in the Kyle area of Hays County around 1900, but I don't know how long they had been in the area. Every now and then, I go to the library in San Marcos to do some reserach on some of my surnames, and I'll keep you in mind when next I go there. I wanted to suggest, though, that if you haven't already done so, you may want to post a message to the Hays County message board. The URL is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~txhays/hays.htm You don't have to sign in or subscribe in order to use that messaage board. There is a link at the bottom of the page to surrounding counties, of which Bastrop County is one. Good luck, Betty Texas ----- Original Message ----- From: <Anicehippylady@aol.com> To: <TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 12:54 PM Subject: [TNGRAING-L] Daniel Mayes - John Mayes >I am searching for Daniel Mayes, b. abt 1811 Tennessee, d. abt 1870 Hayes > County, Texas. Married Nancy Meeks, b. 1808 Kentucky, d/o Suddeth Meeks > and > Winyann Smoot. Daniel had a brother named John Mayes. Daniel and Nancy had > a dau., > Sarah Ann Mayes, b. 12 Nov 1837 Missouri, m. Hugh Miller, Sr. (b. 18 Jan > 1832 > Missouri, d. San Saba, Texas). Sarah and Hugh had a dau., Fannie Miller > ... my > great grandmother, b. 9 May 1869 San Saba, Texas, d. 13 Jun 1959 > Brownwood, > Texas, m. William Ethel Hodge (b. 30 Jun 1866 Elgin, Bastrop County, > Texas, d. > 10 Jun 1928 New Mexico. > > Family legend says: > David Sessom served in the Civil War as a Confederate news dispatcher in > the > 3rd Texas Infantry. He was suspected by some members of his community as > being > a spy for the Union army. Subsequently, David Sessom was accused of > treason > against the Confederacy, and later turned in by a man name Daniel Mayes. > David was hung as a traitor, and is buried in an unmarked grave in San > Marcos, Hays County, Texas. His exact date of death, and location of his > burial > are not known. > Michael Sessom, David's father, swore revenge on Mayes for the death of > his son, and soon after David's passing, Mayes did indeed meet his end. > That > Michael Sessom succeeded in enacting his revenge is the cause for some > speculation . There are those who believe that Mayes was killed by Indians > native to > the area, as there was much tension between the displaced Indian tribes > and the > early settlers of Hays County, Texas. > After the death of David Sessom, Mary Meeks Sessom returned home to her > parents, who in 1870, were living in Collin County, Texas. At the time of > the > census, her name is listed as Mary Meeks, suggesting that she took her > maiden > name back after her husband's death, or that they may not have been > married at > all. No documented proof has yet been found to verify a marriage date for > David Sessom and Mary Meeks. Also of note, Mary and David's children were > not > living with their mother in 1870. Their where-abouts during this time > period are > unknown. However, by the 1880 census, Mary had remarried, and two of her > three > children by David were living in the household with their mother and > stepfather. Mary's second husband, John William Miller, served as > postmaster of > Dilley, Frio County, Texas from 1890 to 1892. > It is sworn, however, by descendants of Michael Sessom, that he > confessed to murdering Mayes shortly before his death. > > Am searching specifically for ANY information on Daniel Mayes but would be > most grateful for any information on anyone in this family. Am also > searching > for photographs of same. > > Thanks, > Linda McCallister