On May 13, 1607, three ships &8212; the Godspeed, the Susan Constant, and the Discovery &8212; arrived on the American shore bearing the colonists who would establish Jamestowne. The birth of a nation was under way.

The National Jamestowne Society along with the First Mississippi Company, Jamestowne Society, are preparing to celebrate the 400th birthday of this colony (1607-2007).

As part of this celebration The First Mississippi Company, Jamestowne Society, has announced its first annual essay contest which will be open to all eighth-grade students attending public or private schools in Mississippi. The winner will honored at the Society&8217;s May meeting and will receive a commemorative medal.

Students are asked to place themselves within an original Jamestowne family in the year 1607 as a starting point for their essay. From there they could discuss the relationships between the colonists and the Native Americans; establishing the government and its infrastructure; obstacles they encountered such as disease, climate, resources and agriculture; or an original approach of their own choosing.

Essays will be evaluated by a panel of judges for historical accuracy, creativity, and attention to details of technical composition including spelling, grammar and punctuation. Each of these categories will carry equal weight in judging.

Submissions should be legibly written on standard notebook paper or type written with no preference shown to either. The essay should be between 300 to 500 words. Essays will not be returned to the student.

Each work should include a cover sheet containing the complete name of the student; the student&8217;s mailing address and telephone number; their parents&8217; names; the name and address of the school they attend and the name of the student&8217;s teacher.

Submissions should be mailed to Capt. and Mrs. Henry Hudson, P.O. Box 653, Sumrall, MS 39482. All submissions will be acknowledged upon receipt. The deadline for submitting essays is April 15, 2006.

For further information contact Capt. and Mrs. Hudson or visit the Society&8217;s Web site at www.jamestowne.org. The Web site offers bibliography and historic details to help with research. If you have a Jamestowne ancestor or think you might, visit the Web site for further details on the membership process.

for the Society.

DOES ANYONE KNOW…………….

……………Dave Ivy (2871 Teasley Drive, Pearl, MS 39208;

email-Jdaveivy@aol.com

) is looking for information on three people: LADERN IVY who was born 1923 in Tutwiler, MS; CLAXTON IVY born in 1925 in Tutwiler; and GENOLA IVY who was born in 1926 in Tutwiler. Can any reader offer more information on these three?

………………Dan Clayborn (

dclayborn@comcast.net

) is seeking information on his grandfather, ANTHONY CLAIBORN who was born 1878. He appears on the Adams County, MS, Census in 1910. On 7 Jan 1904, he married MOLLIE THOMPSON. However no further information can be found on him. Dan has been told that his son, ANTHONY, JR., died a violent death (possibly hanged) sometime between 1927 about 1930, but no documentation about this can be found. Can any reader help with further information about the Claiborns?

Please send your announcements and queries to FAMILY TREES, 900 Main Street, Natchez, MS 39120 or email to

Famtree316@aol.com

. All queries printed free of charge. We look forward to hearing from you!er