I am new to this list and would like to share what information I have in hopes someone will recognize names or make suggestions to me. My ggggrandfather was Samuel ORTEN/ORTON, born Rowan County, NC in 1785. He married Rebecca CAMPBELL in Rowan County about 1805. That I can document. I can also trace Rebecca CAMPBELL's family back a few generations. My real concern and interest is Samuel and his parentage, my brick wall. Samuel and Rebecca had several children, some born in NC and at least two in Tn. Family history says Samuel settled "around Nashville" and that is all. Sometime after 1817 Rebecca died. That can be verified by the birthdate of her last known child. Sometime after that Samuel married Sarah CARTWRIGHT. Samuel and Sarah had one known child born in 1820. Samuel died in 1824. No record has been found of Rebecca Campbell Orten's death, no record of Samuel's second marriage to Sarah CARTWRIGHT has been found. No record of Samuel Orten's death has been found either. Again, by family history, Samuel was a landowner in property "around Nashville". He served in the War of 1812 in Captain John Dalton's Company, 2nd Reg't Tennessee Militia and gave a power of attorney to K V Emery (I think I'm reading that right) to pick up Samuel's pay for service in the war. In the power of attorney form it says Samuel Orten is from Williamson County, Tn. although the power of attorney was executed in Davidson County. Since no land records have been found for property Samuel was supposed to have owned in Tennessee, it has been suggested that wherever his land was, was in an area that the boundaries changed and where the purchase may have been recorded hasn't been located. Samuel allegedly died intestate but if he was a landowner, someone would have had to probate his estate. A search for a will or probate records hasn't been located. I don't believe at this time widows were allowed to handle real estate transactions without some kind of assistance. I haven't found a record of any kind indicating someone was acting on Samuel's estate. If he did in fact own land in Tennessee someone would have had to arrange for the sale of the property after his death. Samuel Orten is alleged to have a brother named Joseph Orten (unproved). The two 'brothers' enlisted in the War of 1812 at the same time. Joseph Orten's parents are unknown also. It is suspected that they are brothers and possibly the sons of John Orten who owned land on the Yadkin River in Rowan County, NC. There appears to be a gap in the family documentation and I suspect a disagreement of some kind within the family may have been the cause of Samuel and Joseph now out there wandering around by themselves with no family to connect to. The Orten/Orton family has always been closely connected to the BRYAN family and there have been marriages between the two families. Samuel's second wife, Sarah Cartwright Orten, upon the death of Samuel, brought the family to St. Genevieve and St. Francois Counties in Missouri where Samuel's oldest son was interested in working in the lead mines. No record has been found of Sarah Orten's death or burial sight. Again, this information comes through family history. No documentation. Whatever help or suggestions anyone cares to make would be greatly appreciated. I can be more specific with details if needed. Thank you. Karen Orten Cannon kcannon@bootheel.net