WRITTEN BY HER GREAT-GREAT-GREAT GRANDSON, BRIAN MCLAUGHLIN

This particular family of Mortons came to Illinois from Lincoln County, Tennessee somewhere between 1841-1842, based on the 1840 census, birth and christening records, and land purchase records. Tirzah's sister Catherine Parkinson Morton was baptized at the Covenanter Church in southern Marion County, Illinois in 1842, but the Mortons are still in Lincoln County, Tennessee in the 1840 federal census.

Tirzah was teased by her family, which called her "Crazy Tersey Alfirey" for her LACK of temper when things went wrong. She came from a long line of Presbyterian faith. Her father's family and mother's family had lived in the same areas of Chester, SC and Lincoln Co. Tenn. for nearly 100 years before she was even born. It seemed this religion sect stayed together when they left places. In a written outline of Tirzah's family, the farm was said to be located: "In Marion County, Illinois, about six miles south of Salem and three miles west of Cartter."

My Grandfather -- Frederick Calvin McLaughlin --- said that one time he remembers a birthday in which Tirzah, Frederick's father Bennett McLaughlin, and my Grandpop (Frederick McLaughlin) all celebrated their birthdays together. Tirzah's birthday was Feb. 27, Bennett's was Feb. 28 and Frederick's was Feb. 29 (leap year). It was also when Tirzah turned 75 years old and Bennett turned 25. Frederick turned 6 that day. After Tirzah's husband J.K. Mac died in 1924, Tirzah sold the family farm and stayed with her daughters' families until her death in 1939. She is buried in the Romine Cemetery just a few miles from where she lived most of her life.

An email from Joe McLaughlin Burge (1933-2003) to Brian McLaughlin, two years before Joe Burge's death in 2003.

Subj:A wild idea about Tirzah Mc
Date:6/12/2001 1:43:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: joseph@@iwvisp.com (Joe) To: Famtree1

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the great account of some awesome work. Recently in probing around in reports of UFO/Extraterestrial contacts, sightings, etc., I came across a description of one group of ETs that have no fingernails, but just tough skin where fingernails would normally be. Well, as you may well know, my grandma, Tirzah (Morton) McLaughlin had, guess what, no fingernails but just tough skin where fingernails would normally be. That's one of the most distinct characteristics I remember about my few visits with her when I was about 4-5 years old, just before she died. Being blind at that time, she "saw" with her hands. When I would be introduced to her as one of Elma's little boys, she would say, "So this is Joseph McLaughlin. Come closer so I can see you." And she would feel my face and head with her hands. I was fascinated with the whole process of her "seeing" with her hands, but most fascinated with those extraordinary hands with no fingernails. Inevitably in reading the UFO stuff, my free-wheeling mind came up with the thought, I wonder if Tirzah might have been the descendant of an alien. If so, we would all have an alien blood line in our heritage. Thought I'd pass it on in case you might be interested.
Regards, ---- Joe McLaughlin Burge