This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: ELDRIDGE, MATLOCK, SHAMBLIN Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/2hB.2ACI/127.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Nailed John B. in Rhea Co. in my 1850 statewide. Will use this as a base to work from. The MATLOCK family is prominent in this area also. On that bunch, it appears that Jason, b. VA, 18 Jly 1769, d. Roane Co., 29 Nov 1848 - first wife not identified in Wells, "History of Roane Co.," c1928, but he had two sons of that union - James and Moore. He m. second, Mary Miller,b. 1783 - d. 2 Aug 1859. They had Absolom, Jane, Malinda, Amanda, Ann, Eveline and Louisa. So, it would appear that Louisa might be a repeated family name. The gentleman who wrote up the article for the "Roane Heritage" book on the family in general, unfortunately died of cancer about 18 months ago. I don't have bunches of references for Rhea, but I DO have abstracts of Deeds. In Deed Book E., dated 29 Jly 1829 0 Registered 17 Sept 1830, Charles MATLOCK of McMinn Co. to Daniel McPHERSON of Rhea Co., for $200.00, 120 Acres in the Hiwassee District, being part of the SE 1/2 section 2, T 1, R 2 W, bounded b! y a conditional linemade betwen William MATLOCK and Daniel McPHERSON. Witnesses: Wm Matlock, James Caroll and Barton McPHERSON. I have done in depth studes of the McPHERSON bunch. Daniel was a Rev. War Soldier, wife Susannah Kincheloe, who settled below modern Rockwood almost on the Roane/Rhea Co. line. His eldest son, Alexander Barton McP, bought land in the Hiwassee District across the TN River - actually just barely in what is now Meigs Co., TN. When they were elderly, Barton moved his parents to a small log cabin on his property, and when they died, he took them back across the river to inter them in what was probably called the McPHERSON Cemetery. Back in the 1930's, Daniel's grave, and that of his son, Henry, were both visibly marked, but when TVA decided to build Watts Bar and embayment of that area started, a survey was done in case graves might have to be removed, etc. At that time, there were indications of some 60 unmarked graves, 1 ABSTON, 4 CLARK, Daniel and Henry McP, a NARRAMORE and a SCOTT. Now nothing is marked, but it is kept mowed, and at least no one has built a house on the ! site!!!! The above doesn't help that much, but the fact that John and Melinda named their oldest son of record William might be a tie in. Their are close ties between old Roane, Rhea and Meigs. I will see what I can find in the next few days. Don't know if I mentioned, but I broke my "pinky" toe on my right foot two days before Christmas, while moving some furniture in my usual barefoot fashion. I did manage to get a shoe on Thursday, long enough to go get a haircut. Maybe I can move about a bit more this next week or so, and come up with more answers. Another clue to watch out for - MATLOCK is also found spelled MEDLOCK. Double checked the 1830 Census for this area. No ELDRIDGE living in Rhea Co., bunches in Roane, and a few in Overton, which I believe we can probably rule out. John B. was b. ca 1812/1813, and would have been about 23 when he married Lorinda/Lorinda, and she would have been ca 16. Jesse ELDRIDGE had a son between 20 & 30 in Roane. Moore MATLOCK was nice enough to make a Will, dated May 1842, but h only names son John, James, Absolum, his "wife", and balance of property to be sold at death of wife, eually divided among other children. That helps lot! I have other resources I can check. Will get back to this later.