I am a descendent of the Thompson/Duty/Rasnake fka RUEHRSCHNECK but I don't know Polly Ryan or her mother. Jacob Rasnake was a Hessian, conscripted by the British to fight in the Rev. War. At one point, he was captured but he escaped. He married Mary "Mollie" Counts (Kuntz, Coons, etc.) dau. of John. A man in Canada has written a book about those who were conscripted. He has more information on Jacob Rasnake aka Ruehrschneck. His web page is: http://www.cgocable.net/~hessian ~Virginia mariefetzer@cfl.rr.com wrote: << I'm researching the Rasnick Family of SW Virginia and am anxious to make contact with relatives of Polly Ryan, author of the book "Journey in Virginia", or her mother, Iolet Duty Thompson. If you know of any of their whereabouts, or have any Rasnick Family information you'd care to share, please email me at: MarieFetzer@cfl.rr.com Thanks, Marie >>