This letter from Ed came last year and has good solid data on the Hairston family-although it does not answer the WALDEN question. From: (Edward Bregenzer) To: MEGBR549@aol.com Judy : The Hairstons first arrived in America about 1729 , there was the father called Peter 'the immigrant' Hairston and at least 4 sons, Andrew , Peter , Samuel and Robert . The were first in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, but only for a short time period, just long enough to get some land patents there and then they crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains into Virginia . They soon became some of the largest land and slave owners in Virginia . Samuel never married . Andrew and Robert married and most of Robert's family stayed in Virginia , except for one 'vagrant' that went to Mississippi and died there about 1852 or so. Andrew's children were mostly girls and the 2 sons he supposedly had I think died rather early and they never married. Some of the girls married and one of them married a man named Amyx and some of those offsprings came to Texas and Oklahoma. Peter, the other brother did marry and he went into South Carolina and it is from Peter that all the Texas Hairstons stem from, but more exactly most of them are from Richard Hairston. Now to the details about your James J. Hairston , As is usually the case those census birth records can be confusing , if not inaccurate , When I checked my data base I found that I had recorded 2 marriages for James J. Hairston and further I had your Martha's last name listed as "WALDEN" . We have James being married to Martha about 1871/1872 , as on the 1910 census they state that they were married for 39 years, which would make it about 1871/1872. It further stated that they had 9 children andin 1910 there were still 5 alive. The birth date for James J. Hairston we have as December 1845 and is probably accurate, as he would then be a son of Richard and CatherineGriffin Hairston . He would have been born in Texas , even though on onecensus it shows he was born in South Carolina [We attribute this to a'census taker error' , then census taker probably asked him where his father was born and South Carolina would have been correct] . Let me give you a couple census records . 1880 Texas - Milam County James Hairston - born 1848 South Carolina [This is the error] Martha - wife born 1857 Mississippi Ann - daug born 1868 Texas [Probably from first marriage of James or even Martha. On one of these census there is listed a lady name "WALDEN" as a mother-in-law]. Martha - daug born 1871 Texas[This also could be from a 1st marriage ofeither one] Richard - son born 1872 Texas Henry - son born 1876 Texas John - son born 1877 Texas 1900 Texas -0 Milam County Henry R. Hairston - born August 1875 texas Fannie [Dukes ?] - wife born August 1874 Texas Mattie K.[Kenton] - son born November 1894 Texas Fredonia A. - daug born December 1897 Texas-(martha l. DODD Hairston had a sister named Fordonia ) 1900 Texas - Milam County - City Of Rockdale J. J. Hairston - born December 1845 Texas [This is most likely right date] Martha - wife born Oct 1855 Mississippi [This also is probably correct] Martha - daug born August 1869 Texas [In 1910 she was a saleslady in a dress shop, she could have been from either marriage]. Minnie - daug born May 1882 Texas Susie - daug born April 1890 Texas Alma - daug born October 1894 Texas >From what I have gathered these male children were what was known as 'truck farmers' . In other words they would grow the produce and then truck it to Dallas to sell. It appears that the Dallas Hairstons came from this family. Several years ago I was in contact with them and a young man by the name of David Hairston [about 25 years old in 1995] wasin College Station Texas at the University there. Trust this doesn't confuse you, but I rather suspect that both James and Martha were married twice. Ed. Bregenzer/Fort Worth , Texas ---------------- Martha Louisa DODD Hairston was the daughter of James Riley DODD and Sarah CAVE of Choctaw Co. Alabama. Her aunt was Lucy(Louisa) ANN (CAVE )Rabon/DODD,Autry and her uncle was: Ashley Haywood DODD( 1815-1860). Her father married thee other women in Milam co. area from 1874 to his death in 1900. Martha Louisa DODD Hairston gave testimony to the county judge concerning her father's military service for the CSA and said that she well remembered him being in the army. When her father returned from war he gave the entire family the measles. Her step mother who was filing for the pension was Mahala Bankston WILLIAMS DODD and the last wife of James Riley DODD. When Martha Louisa DODD Hairston wed James J. Hairston, he was a widower. His first wife, Molly CAVE Hairston had died and Martha raised the stepchildren with her own. It is my belief that Sarah CAVE DODD (Martha's mother) and Henry CAVE (Martha's uncle?) and Lucy (louisa) ANN CAVE DODD (Martha's aunt) were all related in some way? We have not found how Sarah CAVE DODD relates to Henry and Lucy.(who were brother and sister). (1.) We are seeking descendants of Martha Louise Dodd and James J. Hairston. (2.) We are seeking a picture of Martha Louise DODD Hairston and her husband and children ,if possible, one exists?. AND if we put our hopes on luck? We would hope sincerely, that someone has a picture of old james riley dodd and his daughter martha louise dodd hairston-maybe together? (3.) We are seeking any story or legend of Martha (the mystery woman? grin). Thanks sincerely to all who help--and if this letter should make its way over to the Hairston Reunion in Milam co.? We offer a grateful Hug. judy hugg grimes and texas milam co. kin