I was able to obtain the will of Joseph Carpenter Jr from Botetourt Co., Va dated 21 Jan 1792. As soon as I get time, I'll try to put it on the net. It's very interesting, listing the names of all his children. BTW, I have not yet tried to get his wife's will, dated a couple of years later. Does anyone know the legalities of wills in Virginia at that time? Was it necessary to list and grant something to all the children? He gave each of his daughters only 10 shillings each, split everything else between his two sons and his wife. The abstract I have of his wife's will only lists a couple of the daughters. With evidently no mention of the others. I suspect she is a second (or third) wife and wonder if she could have only listed her own children. If the law at that time made it mandatory to grant something to each child, then this would help me tremendously. Sue "It was said she held a grudge until it died of old age, and then had it stuffed and mounted...." David Weber