Jean, I think you are absolutely right about the "married intos" being a link. From all that I have seen so far on the Bedsoles they traveled in a somewhat small social circle and there are numerous marriages into the same families. Some examples are Faircloth, Hair/Hare, and Hales. First records show Thomas Bedsole Sr. in 1783 living in Duplin County and then in 1790 in Bladen County. He married Rebecca Jones prior to 1775. Thomas is said to have been born sometime between 1750 and 1757. As I mentioned earlier land records show that Vincent Bedsole received a patent for 300 Acres in Johnston County in 1760. This would have made Thomas Sr a maximum age of 10 and a minimum age of 3 at the time. With Vincent being old enough to purchase land makes me wonder if he might have been Thomas's father. Any missing Vincent's in the Bedsaul Bunch? I also believe that Quaker records (wherever we can find them) will be valuable in answering some questions. Another source might also be "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants" by Nugent. Anyone out there have access to a copy? Some earlier North Carolina patents were issued in Virginia so who knows what's Bedsoles are lurking there. Peggy P.S. February 25, 1696 John Upton, 191 acres on the N. East side of Pasquotank river, joining swamp and Barcock /s/ John Archdale, Danl. Akehurst, Francis Tomes, Tho. Pollock, Saml. Swann, Henderson Walker (Province of North Carolina 1663-1729 Abstracts of land Patents, Margaret M. Hofmann)