This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: james_norred Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.burnet/2788.1.1.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Interesting and I have had a connection in my mind for sometime now I wanted to explore. This would be a connection back to the Norred's. OK, here we go, and lets do a little background first to set the stage so to speak. One of my gg grandfather, James Oliver Norred, son's was Edward Paskel Norred (1884 1933), in fact the last of his and Margaret Amanda Coon Norred's 11 children. Edward married Georgia Ann Mitcheltree (1884 1973) and one of their daughters, Clara Kate Norred (1913 19890) married a Vernon Watkins (1907 1984). Now Both Vernon and Kate were born in Burnet County, Kate in Burnet (perhaps on the family farm on Hairston Creek) and Vernon I have as Lake Victor. I have their marriage in Burnet 29 Nov 1933. I show them living in Austin 1935 and there after in Lockhart, Caldwell County, Texas where they are buried. I don't have much research on this particular branch of my family as yet, but I do have a good connection, my great uncle Gerald Watkins, one of their issues. I haven't contacted Gerald in some months, but will do so with this information as soon as I have time and see what he has. This might be where I remember the name "Lafayette" from in the first place, and I will explain farther in a moment. First here is what I do have, and you will see where this might apply. As mentioned I have Vernon as born in Lake Victor, Burnet County in 1907 and his parents were John Calvin Watkins (1858 1938) who married Nancy Harriett Nicks (1866 1943) 14 Sept 1882. I show John to be born 13 Feb 1858 Newton, Missouri, and Nancy 27 July 1866 in Burnet County. They are both buried in Burnet County, Texas. John Calvin's father was (as per my sketchy records mind you) was Hollett (Hollis) Watkins (1828 1860), and he was born Arkansas City, Desha Co, Arkansas. His death is shown to be 28 May 1860 in Mantua, Collin Co, TX. He married Mary Jane Marcum (1834 1895) in McDonald, Missouri. Her death is shown as 18 Jul 1895 in Lake Victor, Burnet County, Texas. I show Hollett's father as Issac (or Isaac) Watkins (1784 1827) and born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His death and burial are shown to be in Washington, Arkansas. He married Margaret Dun (1796 1870) and born in Georgia. She died in Collin County, Texas but was buried with Issac in Arkansas. Now these people seem to be prominent in Burnet and Bertram areas of Burnet county within your time frame, and something tells me they perhaps might be the same ones, as mentioned my research is area has been limited thus far. He is what interest me, first the name "Lafayette" would indicate a French heritage, most likely Southern Louisiana in our case. I looked through all of the issues I have (and there are not many mind you) and see no names that would indicate one of the issues marring into a family of French heritage, but that doesn't mean this did not happen. As mentioned that name just rings a bell. Howdy Amzy, didn't want you to think I was ignoring you, but wanted to get the above "possibility out of the way first. Amzy and I are cousins by the way and Felix was also my great grandfather by my grandmother, Annie Alice Hibler. As to the Hibler connection, I still have nothing new, and if Amzy doesn't have a connection either then we are still at an impasse on that link. Something about the Watkins and Hibler's seem to keep popping up, but at the moment I will refer to Amzy or my brother on this one as they have the book. As usual more research is needed, but that is what we lonely genealogist do right? As to a long shot tie in, Clara Kate Norred, Vernon Watkins wife had a brother named Ted La Rue Norred. Now I find the spelling "La Rue" most often and in Cajun French is basically "The Red" in most dialects. I was married to two Cajun women and my second wife had a cousin who went by La Rue. His full name was Virgil La Rue Gilbeaux. It is possible there were more than one Norred Watkins connection I seem to remember. This of course will require more research, but we must remember that most the issues are named for parents and grandparents. If what I posted on my Watkins linage seems to match with yours then I would suggest looking farther into what I have and see if it leads to what your looking for. It does appear we are all connected so please post back with any progress as I would really like to know for my tree. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.