Bruce, these details make sense, if they identified the subject killed correctly. Dave Reed was associated with the McGhees, the subject often associated with this thread. The Tarltons of my family came from South Carolina before 1820, it is believed, originally with the McGhees and Catos, and there were intra-family marriages there in the Carolinas at some time. Alexander Tarlton's aunt, Jane Tarlton married Hugh McGhee in Wayne County in 1825. The Tarltons owned a large plantation about 4 1/2 miles northeast of Wappapello in the early years. That was also close to the McGhee and Cato homesteads.

So, for Alexander to be murdered by McGhee friends and allies, being related to the McGhees himself, I have often wondered whether he could have had some part in the McGhee massacre, battle, whatever you want to call it, and was killed in retaliation. Alexander's children would recall that the men who killed Alexander were masked, leading the family to believe they would have been known by family and neighbors in the Otter Creek (Ojibway) community. They recall that they shouted, "Alexander Tarlton, you dirty republican, ain't you ashamed" right before they killed him. Dark, bloody, and dangerous time in Wayne County to be sure.

Thanks for taking the time to provide some insight on this long-time family mystery. Keith