I feel that I just got a Christmas present of a sort from Corinne Hanna Diller - Cdiller@juno.com - a genealogist whom I have never met but who came up with some pretty good ideas on preponderance of proof and primary documents. Like you, I have done most of my research on the theory that I had to find primary, i.e. legal contemporary documents. At least three of them, before I could put names without asterisks in my Family Tree Maker. But Mrs. Diller makes a great case for using detailed diligent expansive research along with some good deductive reasoning and good judgment as corroborating proof. (Notice the adjectives -- detailed, diligent, expansive as well as good and good.) I now feel right about entering a couple of more generations in my Tree. I KNOW they were my ancestors. Until now, I just cold not provide the proof. And I have new directions for my search for others in the coming year. But don't run off halfcocked on my say-so. Read what Ms. Diller has to say, the preponderance of proof she offers that this is a legitimate method! You will find her article in the current issues of The Signal, biweekly newsletter of USIGS, US Internet Genealogical Society. Here is the URL http://www.usigs.org/signal/signal.htm or <A HREF="http://www.usigs.org/signal/98-12-2.htm#state">Click here: USIGS SIGNAL December 15, 1998</A> love joan