Dear Sharon Yell,

I received the post on my Yell information. I believe my family was in Massachusetts, USA in the 17th century. I don't know anyone who has connected the various Yell families, although such a small geographic area for us to come from, fairly begs that we are from a single family.

As I mentioned previously we have not found any Yell branches from the siblings of Moses Yell (Sr.) who is the paterfamilias of our two branches, Howard/Yell and Curry/Yell. My 4th Great Uncle Archibald Hunter Yell was second governor of the state of Arkansas and the first Congressman from the state of Arkansas. He was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista in Mexico and his body fairly hacked to pieces (the Mexicans had reason to hold a grudge against the Arkansas troops).

He was a protege of Pres. Andrew Jackson and on Archibald's death Pres. Polk took responsibility for the education of Archibald's son, Dewitt Clinton Yell, whose son became prominant in CA and was for some years the Warden at Folsum State Prison.

Even the half neices and nephews for several generations were very prideful of Gov. Yell's standing and named many children after him, including my 1st Uncle Archibald Hunter Yell, born in 1899 and died shortly after.

If you want details of the family in US I can email you and you may email me. In my notes I have transcribed many documents of interest.