I thought I should add extra info on my John Custer who married Mary "Polly" Smiley in case it might make my Smiley query more clearer. John Custer / Custard is the son of Johannes Kuster and Catherine Gohn / Coon from York Co., Pa. They removed to Botetourt County, Virginia about 1795 and settled east of Fincastle in the Mill Creek section near the Gohn / Coon relatives. Johannes Kuster /Johannes Custer 's will is in Botetourt County Will Book E pp 459-460. It was written in German script 17 Jan 1837 and probated May 1838. The will mentioned daughters Elizabeth Gross, Catherine Gartner, Rosanna Rinehart, Sarah Asten and Margaret Brookman..... sons, JOHN, George, Adam, Jacob, Michael, and Abraham Custer / Kuster / Custard. Marianne Dillow Illinois ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My 4th great grandparents are John Custer (spelled Custard in some records) and Mary "Polly" Smiley. She is the daughter of James Smiley and wife unknown. They were in Botetourt County, Virginia. I am trying to find out more about James Smiley and who his wife and parents are. Mary "Polly" Smiley married John Custer (Custard) 13 Sep 1809 in Botetourt Co., Va. , daughter of James Smiley. She was born 18 Feb 1787 in Virginia and died 10 Aug 1863 in Warren Co., Tennessee. The few records I have is the "Annals of Southwest Virginia" in Botetourt County, Va. lists Alexander, Andrew, Daniel, Walter, Sr., Walter Jr., and James Smiley. The dates were from 1770-1799. One record states "On 19 May 1803 Walter Smiley sold to his son James Smiley 136 acres parts of two tracts on Catawaba Creek. Another record in 1818, Fincastle Presbyterian Church in Botetourt Co., Va. mentions a James Smiley is to be given a waggon load of plank for the use of the new church in Fincastle." There was a will in Botetourt for Wallter Smiley proven June 1807. It named children : Alexander, George, Daniel, James and Nancy. In saying this there was Walter Smiley, Sr. and Walter Smiley, Jr. So, this is where the confusion comes in. The only clue I have in the correct generations is the following marriage record : Botetourt Co., Va. ..... Polly Smiley, age 21, to John Custer / Custard 13 Sep 1809, daughter of James Smiley, who is a brother to John Smiley." This Smiley family appears to have resided in Botetourt, Rockbridge and Augusta counties in Virginia. Any help or information to the lineage of James Smiley would greatly be appreciated. The question is whether he might be the son of Walter Smiley, Senior or Walter Smiley, Junior or if this is the same James Smiley. The Custer family was also in these counties before removing to Warren County, Tennessee. Marianne Dilllow Illinois