PROUD WIFE OF TENNESSEE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SGT. CURRENTLY ON TRAIN UP FOR DEPLOYMENT FOR KOSOVO. Hi Liz, That is the same information that I have from Grace Batson,she is from Colorado not Hawaii as I stated earlier.However, what does she list as her proof that the John Howard that married Nancy Howard is the son of the John Howard that married Avis?I have had several researchers other than Grace,tell me that these are his parents,but they can't prove it.They also all claim that he married a Matilda in KY, there is no proof of these either, or at least that I haven't seen it.They claim these due to the ages of John and Nancy at the time of their marriage.It is more than likely that he was married before,due to the fact that he lived in SC for 20 years after the Rev. War,but we have found no marriage in the records of Christian Co.,KY or in Simpsonville,SC.He also does not mention having but one wife in his pension application. I am curious as to the names of the other three children that you have listed as belonging to John and Nancy.If there are three others, they would have to have belonged to the "first wife" and weren't listed on any census records taken in Morgan Co.,TN.This would show more of a light on proving that he did have another wife.I only have seven children listed:Avis,Unknown female,Joseph Newland,Samuel,Nathan,William T.,and Phillip Allen.I only have the spouses of three of them.Avis married Allen Bledsoe,after her death he married my ggg-grandmother Amy Caroline Mathis Barnett,the widow of James Barnett.Joseph Newland married Martha Guffey.Phillip Allen married Lydia Branstetter. This is my exact reason for wanting to make a trip to Simpsonville,SC.To finally find the proof that John and Avis really are John Howard's parents.I know that they were on the "Trail of Tears".Avis was scalped by Indians and had to wear a cap for the rest of her life.She was fortunate that they didn't break her skull as they usually did.Unfortunately it did not list any children that were traveling with them.There are supposably records of the Clear Springs Baptist Church that also has the names of their children,both married and single on the same record.Rev. John Howard's will does mention a son named John Howard.From this everyone assumes that it is the John that married Nancy.This John,Jr. is also shown in SC land records as having land next to his brother Edward Howard. I agree that all of this information, makes it seem as though John Howard, that married Nancy, is indeed the son of John and Avis.However, we still need that little thread that ties them altogether.He can be traced back to the same places as John Sr.He however does not bring any of his siblings with him when he leaves SC for KY,or at least I haven't found any of the rest of the children of John Sr. and Avis.The only family that he is in Morgan Co.,TN with are his cousins.His wife Nancy and her two brothers, Samuel and Nathan,these are supposably the children of John Sr.'s son Edward, the brother of John that married Nancy.However, if you look at the age of Edward, he is too young to be the father of Nathan.Edward was only 7 years old when Nathan was born. John and Nancy did name their oldest son Joseph Newland.Rev. John and Avis also had a son named Joseph Newland.John and Nancy did not however, name one of their sons John.They do have two sons named after Nancy's brothers. This family is a mystery.The pieces all seem to fit, just can't seem to find the glue to make them stay.If we could just so much as find one of the other children mention in the will of Rev. John being somewhere other than SC with John "Jr.".We would have it made,but so far I haven't been able to do that. Hopefully we can find something soon. Cathy