Folks, My 3g grandfather William McCall appears on the list of "Free White Males in Captain Vinson's Company, 1826. I have 2 questions: Who was Captain Vinson? Does any one know a first name, parents, spouse, etc.? What/why did these "Companies" exist? They seem to be almost used like a census district as of 1826, but I'm sure there's some historical background for this. Does any local historian wish to enlighten the rest of us? Many thanks, Mary ps: I presume my 3g grandfather was there because he married Parthena Vinson, daughter of James Vinson Jr. and Rhoda Benthal in 1802. But what were the "Companies" all about?