What I hope to accomplish is to sort the four lines out ( Stephen and James Langford who first appeared in Jackson Co TN. about 1814. & Rufus Wiley Langford and John (Jack) Langford first appear on the 1830 Census in Overton County TN. My experience has been from genealogical research is; that just because people with the same surname appeared in a small area with in the same time period does not make them related to each other. At times it works out they are ----but with out positive proof , it is wrong to make that assessment. ---Rufus Wiley must have been married pre 1820 to Nancy Hardy ,as their first child , born 1820 died 1820 was born in Texas. ( way back when Texas was still a part of Mexico.) Census tell us Rufus Wiley Langford was born in S.C.in 1800. In his case he may have move to middle TN. young. DNA tested back to a Henry Langford who died ca. 1792-96 in Greenville S.C. Rufus would to have been from one of his sons, Rufus Wiley Langford was not born till 1800. I only know of two sons Henry Sr (d-1792-6) had (1)Henry Jr. who obtained the family farm in Greenville co S.C. as he died ca 1860 on that farm, this Henry jr's Will is in the Greenville Court House. It was highly contested by one of his daughters (husband, as women had no rights)..and is pages long. I do have a abstract of the Will. The other known son is (2) Benjamin Langford, who did appear on some early Greenville records, he married Martha Pace and eventually moved to Pope Co ARK. It is from him that the Bandera Texas Langford descend from. (they have their own web site and also if you Google just ; "Benjamin Langford/Pope CO AK" . you may pull up data on him) My thought is that Rufus Wiley Langford is form a still unknown son. But who? Rufus we know was a off and on lifetime member of the "Roaring River Baptist Church" in Overton County. In that churches early records 1806 there is mentioned of a "Langford", (no given name) I am too many miles away , to exam of those records of that church. It may tell the tale of who Rufus father was. DNA will put you in family group/western Europe/ or etc. As more people get DNA tested for genealogy and list their oldest ancestor. Eventually a family picture takes place. Three people who names remain unknown to anyone, except them selves and the lab who does the testing> You may view the DNA results will only see that oldest ancestors name. In Rufus case you see Henry and Martha Pace. A person who I know who always thought Rufus and James were brothers, a excellent researcher took the DNA test We were super surprised, when the test came back and he shared with us the results (his choice to share) He came out to match " Henry and Martha Pace" It opened up a whole new world to us who had spent years researching. Now we question everything and with out positive proof, everything else is a myth. I have attached the link to this email so you may your self look at the Langford-Lankford DNA project. If you do not want anyone to know you are the one who took the test no one will ever know as that is personnel info. and only the person taking the test may choose to disclose it and then only to those he wishes to share it with.. http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Langford&fixed_columns=on The 4th Langford in that area of TN was: John( Jack) Langford who was married to Mary POLLY Crane ca 1812 most likely in S.C. He was born ca 1788 S.C. (census/ages of children) This John Langford served in the War of 1812. Where he lived between 1815-1830 ----------is still a unknown factor . No proof, only myths. I have seen where he was on the roll as having served under Capt Hodges in the War of 1812. also a abstract of his widow Mary Polly (crane) Langford Pension Application, where she had applied for a pension after John had departed. BUT never have I found anyone that sent for his service record. ( which may or may not tell us anything about his "roots". My interest is this, my husband and siblings asked me in 2002 to find their grandmother Langford family history. They want to know their "Heritage". I am at this point in this search: "A land trans action deed was signed by Eli Langford (sr), Josiah Langford, Stephen Langford and James Langford signed 1814 in Jackson County TN. dealing with some property that was located ion the North Carolina/South Carolina border. " It was one brother selling to his father, who in turn sold to another son. That son did return to that area and live out a good deal of his life time on the N.C.-S.C. border.. We have been able to establish that Stephen & James were brothers, sons of Eli & Sarah Langford Sr. Note: In none of the records does Eli sign with the Sr, ----- because there are several Eli's with in this family it is my way to note it as so far the oldest "Eli" Anyone interested in these families or remotely related to them is welcome to join our little group seeking out the answers to what our Langford "Heritage is" So far DNA has told us western Europe, but when did they arrive in America and where did they live before TN. Why were they in S.C.? It will be interesting to see how History/records tell the story of our Heritage.. A clue here and a clue there sometimes is that little piece we are searching for. ( A big Puzzle.) Rose C Dcran41266@comcast.net