Ruth, sorry not to have responded sooner; I am frantically trying to complete my book and did not check e-mail for 2-3 days. Here is a paraphrase of what I have written in a chapter in which I discuss John Elam Jr. (c. 1710-1788) of Chesterfield Co.: On 2 December 1743, John Jr. acquired from Philip Worsham 120 acres in the Winterpock area, bounded by Philip Jones and James Hill [Weisiger, Henrico County, Virginia, Deeds, 1737-1750, p,. 8]. The next month, John Jr., described as "John Ealam, the younger," purchased 544 acres from Philip Jones and Richard Jones; the acreage was " bounded by Winterpock Creek, Town's line, John Ealam the elder, Harding, Williams and Watkins, Richard and James Robinson." [ibid., p. 9]. John Hill, Leonard Cheatham, and Alexander Elam were listed as witnesses to the deed. The identity of Alexander has not been ascertained, but it is possible that he was a son of John Jr. Because of the converyance in 1789 of Alexander Elam of Mecklenburg Co. of his relatively small estate to his ":brother" Edward Elam of Charlotte Co., I am stretching to connect the two and offer the possibility for consideration. I have found no other Alexander around ca. 1744, but there may have been one. I have no doubt that John Ealam the younger and John Ealam the elder were John Elam Sr. and John Elam Jr., son and grandson of old Martin Elam. Keep at it. We'll find something someday.....probably something to prove me wrong just after my book with all its theories is printed, but that will be alright. We must continue searching for truth. Regards. Earl