knew it was bound to happen.

Just in the short time I've been doing this genealogy stuff, I've found that those of us who are descendants of Georgia pioneers, and who stayed in the Atlanta area, will more than likely find we're related somewhere down the line.

Well, it happened. Last week I printed a letter from "Bob" who was looking for Malinda Carroll. I had told Bob to look in Gwinnett County for her roots since I knew there were a bunch of Carrols there in the early 1800s. How did I know? Because my Blakes married into the Carroll family. I just had a funny feeling, even then.

Monday, I received an e-mail from Lanny Cauthen, who had found Bob's Malinda ... and a lot more. Here's what Lanny's letter said:

"Judy, I ... wanted to respond to Bob who wrote to you about the Carroll family of Fayette Co. This is also my wife's line. Perhaps I have some additional information to share although I am also at a standstill. "Thomas Carroll was in Fayette Co. at least by 1826 and was listed in the tax digest for that year in the 549th Dist. He owned no land. By 1827 he owned land lot 673 of the 7th Dist. of Fayette Co. as well as land in other counties.

"I do not know the name of the first wife of Thomas nor his parentage, but he had a brother named James Carroll. Thomas and James were living in Jackson Co., Ga. in 1813 when James died and left a will. Thomas was the administrator of James' will.

"James was married to Sarah Miller, and their five children were John, Thomas, Rachel, Elizabeth and Polly. James' will mentioned owning land in the 12th district of Wilkinson Co., Ga. and also part of several acres in York Co., S. C., which was granted to John Carrel, John Humphries, and James Keytendale. James' will was signed on March 9, 1813 and probated on July 6, 1813.

"Thomas, and probably his nephew, James Carroll, were listed in the 1817 tax digest for Jackson Co. in Sullivan's Dist. Sarah Miller Carroll and her children eventually moved to Gwinnett Co., Ga. Thomas probably also moved there and is probably the one enumerated in the 1820 census record for that county.

"Thomas died in Fayette Co. either in 1840 or 1841 and left a will in Book A, p. 38. His nephew John Carroll was one of the administrators of the will. Thomas owned land in many counties and mentioned his farms in Fayette, Carroll, and Coweta counties. He left $5 to Nelly Vickery Carroll 'who claims to have married him.' Records show they were married in Fayette Co. on Nov. 21, 1836.

"His will also mentions the following children: Mary 'Polly' Carroll Hammock, Sally Carroll Weaver, John Carroll, Malinda Carroll McBride, James Carroll, Thomas Carroll, Elizabeth Carroll, Marcus LaFayette Carroll, Francis Marion Carroll, and Emily Jane Carroll.

"Malinda Carroll was also my wife's ancestor, and she was married to Andrew Jackson McBride in Fayette Co. on May 18, 1836. They lived on a plantation off of Seay Rd., south of Fayetteville and are buried in the family cemetery there. Three of their four sons died during the Civil War. Children from the family Bible and their birth dates are:

"Mary McBride born Oct. 11, 1838; Samuel McBride born March 8, 1840; James W. McBride born Aug. 29, 1841; Thomas McBride born May 21, 1843; Malinda McBride born May 26, 1845; Martha Jane McBride born Feb. 26, 1847; Frances McBride born Nov. 3, 1848; Abigail McBride born Sept. 21, 1850; Andrew McBride born Dec. 13, 1853.

"I would appreciate your passing this along to Bob ... My e-mail address is Lcauthen@mindspring.com. Keep up the columns. Thanks ..."

Well, I forwarded Lanny's e-mail to Bob, and got another e-mail from Lanny this morning with more information:

"Judy, Thanks for being so prompt about responding to my e-mail and sending me Bob's address. I sent him a message yesterday and have already received a response. "Re: James Carroll and Sarah Miller, I want to add the following: Sarah was the daughter of Andrew Miller and was married first to Joseph Nesbit of York Dist., S. C. They had one child whose name was William Nesbit. William married Mary Lollis, and they raised a large family in Gwinnett Co.

"After the death of Joseph Nesbit, Sarah was married second to James Carroll. Their five children were: 1. John Carroll married Elizabeth Maloney; 2. Thomas Carroll married Rhoda Blake; 3. Rachel Carroll was born on Sept. 28, 1804 in S. C. and died in Fayette Co., Ga. on Aug. 22, 1832. Rachel married John Dennis Stell in Gwinnett Co. on Nov. 24, 1822. They are the ancestors of the Stell family of Fayette Co.

"After Rachel's death, John Dennis Stell married Amanda Harvey Cox in Fayette Co. on Jan. 2, 1839; 4. Elizabeth Carroll married a Mr. Castleberry; 5. Polly Carroll married Jack Blake.

"The above information is taken from 'History of Gwinnett Co., Ga., Vol. II' by J. C. Flanigan. Information on Rachel Carroll is from 'Malone and Allied Families,' Second and Revised Edition by Randolph A. Malone.

"Thanks again for your help, Lanny Cauthen."

Whoa, there, Lanny! Thomas Carroll married Rhoda Blake? Rhoda Blake Carroll was the daughter of William Blake, who was the first sheriff of Gwinnett Co., and my GGGggrandfather. I guess that makes Bob, Lanny's wife and me distant cousins. I will let my genealogy program figure out how and in which generation. I could never do it myself.

It always makes you feel good when you help someone make a connection. And being related is icing on the cake. If there are any more Carroll relatives out there, here's Bob's e-mail address: ruthbpbpd@zdnetonebox.com.

Now, why don't you send info on your families who lived in the counties south of Atlanta? I'd love to print your success story too. Send mail to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

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