Hello fellow rooters: Is there anything known about migration patterns, major trails, waterways into West Tennessee from Middle Tennesssee, NW Mississippi, and Western KY at the time of its earliest settlements (in Lauderdale) 1835+ ??? As I explore possible Lauderdale County, TN. FORSYTH(E) links to the Gravel Hill community and southern McNairy County, TN FORSYTH(E) family groups; I note that both the Forked Deer River, and the Hatchie River flow to the Mississippi River from southern McNairy County westerly to Lauderdale. Because of the 1870 census "rafting" and "boating" occupations cited in the Lauderdale FORSYTH(E)'s, we surmise that these families may have journeyed via inland waterways to Hales Point, TN (on the MS Rvr) that is located near the confluence of the Forked Deer / Obion Rivers and the Mississippi River. In fact WILLIAM STANTON FORSYTH(E) bought 640 acres bounded, in part, by the Obion and Mississippi Rivers in 1871. What sources today would tell us whether the Forked Deer River, and the Hatchie River were (generally, seasonally, etc.) navigable to the Mississippi River from southern McNairy County westerly all the way thru to Lauderdale during the mid 1800's? Another speculation is they might have moved to W. Tenn via the Tennessee River running also through McNairy Co (Shiloh Battlefield/Pittsburg Landing) near Purdy, and it flows north into the Ohio which flows into the Miss. R. so they could have just floated from McNairy downstream to Ohio to Miss. R. until they stopped in Hales Point. Just tyring to make a circumstantial case. Thank you in advance for any Help! Sterling Forsythe (etal) Seeking FORSYTH(E) (Lauderdale/McNairy) also BOATMAN (McNairy), HOLLIDAY, MATLOCK (McNairy), NEWMAN (Lauderdale), and RILEY (Lauderdale)