There was two lines of the Gaston's in Jefferson Co., IL. One was the daughter in laws and her children of (Justice) John Gaston of Richland/Fishing Creek, SC. John's son John, Jr's wife was Jannet Knox/Gaston. THey had 4 children. James (my line) b 1777, William b 1782, Elizabeth bc 1786 and Esther. Jannet moved to that Illinois area 1808 after her husband John Jr. died of influenze. Her dtr Elizabeth was in Logan Co., KY m to Jonathan Ferguson. James died 1802 and his wife came back to Tennessee. William died circa 1806. Esther and her husband (and cousin) Samuel Gaston were there in Illinois. Also there was the descendents of Robert Gaston and Margaret Logan. The resident experts on this line is Shelba and Bev. Both were on the Gaston Mail list. Gaston Cemetery in Jefferson has many of these family members. Your Elizabeth will very likely be in this group somewhere. By establishing a relationship between the Gaston's and Buffinton you may help establish Joels parentage. Geographic location played a big part.