Dead Edd, I can't thank you enough for mentioning the above web site on a recent e-mail. I have spent the past few days researching my Rhode Island roots on this site http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/chrono.htm I have found a transcript of the original Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations of July 15, 1663, which names three of my direct ancestors, "our trusted and well beloved subject" John CLARKE and "purchasers and ffree inhabitants" Joseph CLARKE and William DYRE. In the first government of Rhode Island, a Benedict ARNOLD was installed as the first Governor and my Joseph CLARKE was one of the 10 Assistants, or senior level government officials. The document is quite detailed, even down to whale fishing regulations and vineyard plantations, as well as the timing of meetings of the governing body. As I know that several listers also have ancestors from the US, I would highly recommend a thorough search of this site for details of the history around the events which made our ancestors move to Canada as well as the history and documents related to events such as the American Revolution, the war of 1812, the British War Blue Book for WWII, as well as material right up to Sept. 11 and the US response to Terrorism. Again, thank you for sharing this web site. Kindest regards, Anne CLARK-STEWART Mississauga, Ontario