This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/XeB.2ACE/3385.3.1.1 Message Board Post: Kim: Also, I would not rule out M.E.C. "Mel" Willis as James' father. Mel Willis is the son of Larkin W. Willis, older brother of Iredell. Either way you would descend from the older Larkin Willis through son James Willis (b. 1800) who married Sarah Stapleton. Iredell's son James is supposed to have avenged his father's death by killing Ned Burton as he stood on his front porch and then fled the county and changed his name to avoid being caught. Mel Willis' son James may be the more likely candidate because Mel's other children moved to Wise County, Virginia. Mel apparently had several children with Ibby Winstead and also some with Eliza ________. My wife is a descendant of J.M.D. "Matt" Willis, son of old James, through his daughter Sally Willis who married McClellan "Clen" Lawson.