Does anyone know exactly where the "Tennessee land" was located that John
Clemens owned which became the albatross for the Clemens' family? I'm
guessing it must have been close to Gainesville as apparently folks there
thought Sam was born in Gainesville, wrote him about it, and he gave them a
comical reply. It's possible my ancestors were neighbors as great uncles of
mine owned huge chunks of land in the area.

Here's a note from my Dad on Gainesboro. Of course, we all know better about
Sam's birthplace etc.

----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Wesley Britton" <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 7:13 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Tennessee Land

Wes,

This is the full context of the reply that Gainsboro, Tenn. received from
their query to Mark Twain on the tradition that he was born in Gainsboro.
 "According to the best information I can get, I suppose I first saw the
light of day in Fayetteville, Mo. It was before my recollections. I might as
well have been born in Fentress County, or Gainsboro, Tennessee, my parents
having resided there a short time before I became an American citizen. I had
no
choice in the matter, however, and know nothing about it, except from
family traditions."

So it apparently was Fentress County where the family owned land. It was
possible to get 200 acres by "homesteading" and many sold this land for a
rifle, cow, or horse. The county is on the border of Kentucky and in your
Uncle Charles' book as some of the Cooper family came to Kentucky fron
there.