came at a good time

About two weeks ago, a dear friend told me that, not far from here (Belton, SC), is the spot where a man made guns. The story goes that he would dig silver out of the ground nearby and make a silver bullet to go into each rifle for the first shot. I found the place on my not so clear copy of the Mills Atlas Circa 1825.
I mentioned the claim by some that Abe Lincoln was really an illigetimate son of John C Calhoun. She told me that the spot of that tryst was not really far from here too. So I set out to look for Saylor's Crossing, where there was a tavern maid named Nancy Hanks and John C. had a registered court document of paying her monthly for a illigetimate child he fathered. There were five Nancy Hanks and two were easily ruled out by age.
The story goes that a Thomas Lincoln came to the area driving a herd of hogs here from TN and picked up a few contract jobs while in the area. Then Mr Calhoun paid him to take her off where she would be no trouble for him anymore. This would have made Abe five years older than he was officially recorded to be: not much trouble to hide five years in his public carreer days, but a 12 yr old actually 17 would cause notice. Hmm.. maybe those days in the backwoods covered for most of it???
Anyway, I've been reading many old accounts of area happenings and looking at old maps.

Marion