Hi,
I sent your exchange with Sel to my cousin. She livies in Gretna in Pittsyvania Co, VA which is where she was also born. I'm going to also send her what you wrote to me because she doesn't visit this forum and has several health issues.

I ,as well as some of my family members, have the Hairston book and have communicated with Henry in the past. The Hairstons are my secondary lines so researching them hasn't been my first priority.

My experience has been that folks from western VA migrated thru WV to southwestern PA in the early 1900s to work in the coal mines and steel mills. Some of the earlier settlers came to the area where I am from in Fayette Co., and Washington Co. because both counties had stops on the UGRR. If I were you, I would check those Hairstons who settled in that area for clues.

Benjmain Hairston who lived in Fayette Co was the father of Nina Hariston and the husband of Edna Thomas. Nina married my paternal cousin, Maj. Benjamin Stith. Nina was also a cousin of my mom's thru her Thomas family. Benjamin was the son of Sidney Hairston who married Edith Watkins. Sidney was the son of William Jordon Hairston and Polly Hairston. William and Polly were born on the Cooleemee Plantation. I think William was born around 1838 and Polly around 1829. Edith's parents were John Watkins and Judith Hairston. I have John born around 1811 and Judith around 1830. I don't have a birth location for either.

Linda