
thanks Harkins, I'll have to somehow find those names (jonathan guess and margaret cameron), do you happen to have a link? Update, the earliest ancestor is 3rd grandmother Mary Elizabeth Epling born 1850.in Boone, Co. West Virginia. wish i could find something earlier. I do know the surname Epling is Bavarian
My nearest H17a comes from Latvia. Mama was born in Riga. Her mother, we think, was born in Ilukste, Salienas pagasts,,Latvia. My great grandmother, were not sure yet, exactly where in Latvia. It coulyd have been the Jelgava area or more south. In later years my mother'ss family were more in Rujiena and Trikata areas of Valmeira pagasts, Latvia.