The Lauderdale, Al. to Panola, Miss. is the same route my Whitten relatives took after leaving Laurens County, South Carolina. My T.T. OBryant married 2 Whitten sisters. Some family members were born or married in Lauderdale County before moving to Batesville area (District 3?) I would look at the Whitten line. Some of the families that show up over and again are Shankle(s), Richardson, Stewart, Boyles, Branch, Loyd, Byrd, Brown, Young, Jones. My Thomas might have been a nephew to Samuel.