This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: ELDRIDGE, SHAMBLIN, SHANBLIN Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/2hB.2ACI/127.1 Message Board Post: Don't know that I can resolve your question completely, but will try to atttack this one from the ELDRIDGE side of the equation. Everyone in this part of the country is descended from Simeon ELDRIGE, Rev. War soldier, b. 1758 in Frederick Co., VA, s/o Thomas and Cathran or "Katy" TAYLOR ELDRIDGE. Simeon m. Mary BRITTAIN in Guilford Co., NC, d/o William BRITTAIN. Thos. Eldridge was b. ca 1740 - d. after 1810 in Knox Co., TN, at the home of a daughter, so several generations migrated in this direction.Simeon and family wandered around the area including Roane, Rhea, back to Roane to that part now known as Loudon, Loudon Co. - formed in 1870 from Roane, Monroe, and Blount. He finally wound up in McMin Co., dying there 11 June 1851. His children are listed: Benjamin, Thomas, Elizabeth, Nancy, possibly others not identified, and all b. 1700's, and marrying early 1800's. The one that has the most emphasis is Benjamin, s/o Simeon, served in War of 1812, m. Martha "Patsey" Jack! son, 7 Feb 1815, Roane Co. They had 4 children: John Harrison, Simeon who never married, James B. who also never married, and Susan Fuqua who m. a John Taliaferro JONES. Benjamin m. 2. Rebecca Middleton, 14 Sept 1847 in McMinn Co. - 2 more children Theresa who m. a BOYD, and Martha "Mattie" Eliza who m. Joe Smith in McMinn Co. There are no direct connections here for Louisa Ann, but she is bound to have come down through one of the lines from Thomas or Simeon's sons. The SHAMBLIN name is found in Meigs, Sevier, Polk,& McMinn Counties. With a SHAMLIN spelling, we have Meigs and Roane, in the state wide 1850 Census. The latter may hold a clue. Since this couple was married in Meigs, and Meigs abuts Roane, it may be the link that is missing. The alternative view - since Columbus W. d. in Knox Co., the couple may well have lived in that part of Roane that became Loudon in 1870. Roane and Knox Co. shared a line, and there was much interaction of families between Roane and the extreme southern edge of Knox. Maybe a post to the Knox and Loudon Co. sites would stir some activity up on these two surnames. A George Washington SHAMBLIN, age 76, b. McMinn Co., father Jesse SHAMBLIN, mother Ellen FORGEE, both parents b. TN, died in Meigs Co. in 1922, according to the dc abstracts done by Cleveland Public Library. He would have been b. ca 1846. He is probably the s/o the John 38, Hollen, 37, with siblings James, 11; Joel, 9; William, 7; George, 3; found McMinn 1255/626 in 1850. Nowhere do I find a Columbus W., of about 11 years in the 1850 Census as transcribed by Sistler. Books DO have errors, but usually not two ommissions. Any other clues to be found? Did Columbus d. in Knoxville as a Civil War participant? Aha! That is the answer - He is listed in the Union forces, as Columbus W. SHANBLIN, , Pvt. E. Co., E Co., 5th Inf. Have you tried to retrieve a Widow's pension for Louisa, which would pay to support her daughter until maturity or marriage, even if Louisa married again? This is cited from, "Tennesseans in the Civil War", Civil War Centennial Commission, Nashville, T! N, c1965.