I've been following this discussion with interest. One of my ancestors was Mary (Polly) Ely. Real quick, a partial listing is: 1.Thomas ELY b ca 1728, probably in England. d ca 1782 Bedford Co, Va. + Jane E. SMITH, b probably in England, d ? Lee Co, VA, probably buried in Robert Ely family cemetery 2. Thomas ELY, Jr. b probably in PA, killed in Revolutionary War. 2. William ELY b 25 Mar 1783 PA, d 1851-53 Lee Co, buried near Hagan, Lee Co. + Mary RALLINGS b VA, m 23 Oct 1780 in Bedford Co, VA 3. William ELY, Jr. + Mary Rebecca SAYLOR m 18 Aug 1809 in Knox Co, KY + John PACE m 11 Dec 1828 Knox or Harlan Co, KY(?) 4. William Ely + Elizabeth DANIEL m 24 July 1834 Knox or Harlan Co, KY (?) 4. Rebecca (Dicie) ELY + James Henderson BLANTON b 12 Jan 1814 Monroe Co, TN, d 1 Sept 1891 Johnson co, KY, m 11 May 1832 in Knox/Harlan Co, KY(?) + John Daniel m 15 Apr 1847 in Knox or Harlan Co, KY(?) 4. Jane ELY 4. Catherine ELY + Elfisha HOWARD m 9 Feb 1843 in Knox/Harlan Co, KY(?) 4. John ELY b Harlan Co, KY, d <1871 + Nancy WILDER b 1827, m 22 Mar 1846 Harlan Co, KY 3. Anthony ELY 3. John M. ELY 3. Catherine ELY 3. Joseph ELY 3. Mary ELY 2. John ELY b 1755 Stafford Co, VA, d Feb 1839 Lee Co. Buried in an unmarked grave, Orr Cemetery, Sugar Run, Lee Co. + Barbara Jane FRY b 1755-60, d 1849 Powell Valley, Lee Co. m ca 1783 Montgomery Co, VA 3. Thomas ELY b ca 1784 Montgomery Co, VA + Isabel SHACKELFORD m ca 1824, probably in Lee Co. 3. Mary R. (Polly) ELY b 11 Nov 1786 Montgomery Co, VA, d 21 Aug 1866 Davis Co, IA + William RUSSELL 1 b 28 Feb 1785 probably in Guilford Co, NC, d July/Aug 1833 Bartholomew Co, IN, probably married in Lee Co. If this helps someone, wonderful. If it further confuses the issue, isn't that half of what genealogy is all about ?! Jim