Thanks for your reply, and please, once you get home and get your computer back online, email me a cshaffer@houston.rr.com.

I am not sure I have a connection to the Estes family, but have a "strong" hunch I do. My 3rd great-grandfather was Laban Estes Buchanan, b 1827 in Davidson Co., TN. In a recently discovered family Bible of my g-grandmother, from when she married in 1901 and kept records in until her death in 1979, and from another old Bible of another family member, I found the information that Laban Esters Buchanan (written in the Bible that way), b. Davidson Co, "orphans", and a brother "Jim". That is all I know about the parents/siblings of my Laban Estes Buchanan. There are about 4 of us searching high and low for the Buchanan ancestors, and I decided I'd try to "back track" into Laban Estes, because of the name, which I feel is a definite clue (?).

My Laban Estes Buchanan's name spelled elsewhere (than the Bible) is "Estes". I feel there must be some connection to Laban Estes and in my research, found some info he married Priscilla Chisum. The first record I've found of Laban Estes in Davidson Co. is dated 1811 - a tax record. The 1820 census is difficult to read and I'm not sure I've located him there. The 1830 census is:

1830 Davidson Co, TN, p 256, ancestry image 114
Estis, Labourn
3 males under 10
1 male 15-20
1 male 50-60
2 females 5-10
2 females 10-15
1 female 40-50

I also found a record for a Barbara "Eastis" marrying a Robert Buchanan in Davidson Co. 6 July 1826, which would be about right for my Laban's date of birth. I am using the assumption (for now) that Robert and Barbara married, had son Laban (named after Barbara's father, Laban Estes, who died prior to 1840), then had a son "Jim," then Barbara died before 1840. I then "assume" the two young boys, Laban and Jim, lived with Laban and Priscilla Estes, their grandparents (I find a Robert Buchanan in Davidson Co, but I think he was too old to be my Laban's father, and if he was, he lived with his elderly Buchanan mother (I think) until she died, then married and had another family - if he's the right Robert Buchanan). I find Priscilla Chisum in the 1840 Davidson Co. TN census with 2 young males - 10-15 yrs of age, which would then be about right for Laban and brother Jim. This is purely speculation at this point. I've searched everything I can find on Davidson Co. wills, guardianships, etc. and thus far have found nothing to give me any clues.

My Laban Estes Buchanan named his first son "Robert Thomas" and his second "Elijah John" - the second after his wife's father and grandfather. So, if the first son was named after Laban's father, my Laban's father would have been "Robert" - so back to the Robert Buchanan and Barbara Eastis marriage record.

I have my Laban Estes Buchanan documented from 1847 when he joined the Army from Davidson Co., TN, til his death. It is so interesting to me; he was born and raised in TN, joined the Army, and was sent to TX for nearly all of his 5 years of service. I have visited the fort where he was last stationed, and which when he was sent there, was nothing but a hilltop, and visited the barracks of the company he was in. Then after his army service, he returned to TN, married, then migrated with his wife's family first to IL (where there are Estes families, including a Laban!), then to TX, where he died, and which is where I live. While the pension records do not reflect it, I have received some info from another researcher that indicated he served some time in Port Lavaca, TX, which is very near to Fordtran, TX, which is where he settled and lived until his death.

My Laban Estes Buchanan also had 2 daughters - one named Martha and one Sarah. There were 2 other children born, but they died young, and I have no record of names or sexes. His 2nd child/daughter (that I know of) was my 2nd g-grandmother, Sarah C. Buchanan - no idea what the "C" stands for - I've looked and asked everyone I can find. I keep hoping I'll find the info and it'll be "Chisum" - that would just about cinch my looking!

What a tangled web! I look forward to sharing info with you - I don't have much documentation on the Estes line - not sure yet it's mine! I keep hoping some of the descendants of "Jim" will see my queries and help us answerr the question of who our Buchanan ancestors were.