Lynda, I did finally find the 1857 deed to Sarah Ann Wightman from James Burt, but only because the grantor was recited in the 1869 deed. Why should it take an hour, you ask? Because it was in the grantee index under Mightman! Yes, as in ("Might makes right....") It just about drove me nuts--and that's not a very long drive, I fear. I tried other variants, but I confess that Mightman never entered my mind. I finally called a staffer to help me understand why I couldn't find it. She couldn't find it either, so I got the grantor's name (one of the pre-eminent developers here for 50 years and more) and went through several pages of conveyance indexes until I saw "Mightman." Egad! It will be easier for the next folks, though. We corrected BOTH indices by hand in ink. So the plat and the three deeds left Palatka by priority mail at 1 p.m. today. They should hit your mailbox on Friday. Do share them with those old folks immediately, if not sooner. More on probates, God willing, later.... Regards. --Brian *********************************************** Lynda, I'm on my way to the courthouse to see if I can find the other deed. If I do, I'll include it. If not, I'll send the other two and the plat on the way back. Someone has observed that "old people have a positive genius for dying just when you were about to ask them something or show them something." Since you live way off there in Texas and your folks' ages range into the nineties, I'll send the stuff by priority mail. I don't want to cause them to miss out. I'll let you know about estate proceedings as soon as I can get to St. Augustine. In the meantime, enjoy! --Brian **************************************** Lynda wrote: > > You are truly fantastic!!! I am so excited. This is such wonderful news!!! > Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I'm almost speechless - This means so much to > me. I have aunts and uncles down around the St Pete area and they are in their > 70's, 80's and 90's. They are the main reason I started this genealogy in the > first place - I can't wait to share this with them. My dad died in 1981 - (he > was the eldest child) and he could have given me so much info if only I had > started this research while I still had him here. He was about ten years old > when his grandma Kate (Tim and Sarah's daughter) died. He's probably heard > stories and more stories, but I never asked the questions. > Thank you again Brian. You have certainly brightened my week! > Lynda