I love these puzzles, so will take a stab at it. OK, Sam starts out easy saying Martin was brother of his deceased wife Mary French Greenwell and she was due one fifth the estate, as were brothers James and Raphael Mary French Greenwell--one fifth to her heir Samuel James French--one fifth Raphael French--one fifth Only three siblings getting fifths of an estate? NOW it becomes confusing, but I confuse more easily these days. At any rate, after listing only three siblings Mary, James and Raphael, the list concludes with a "whole bunch" -- Susanna Greenwell, Eleanor Brown, William Yates, Ignatius Yates, Eleanor French and John French, Dorothy Cissell, George Cissell and Barton Yates, "which last mentioned five are infants, his legal representatives." Five infants have HIS representatives? Let's sort the infants. Eleanor and John are later identified as heirs of Ignatius French, whom I now assume is another brother of Martin. I shall brazenly dub him so. Ignatius French--1/5, half of which to each heir Eleanor and John French And that leaves us three "infants" Dorothy and George Cissell and Barton Yates. Yates there are aplenty and Martin has another sib Ann French Yates, whose six heirs must share her fifth of the estate. Ann French Yates--one fifth divided among her six heirs Barton, Martin, Ignatius, William, Eleanor Yates and Susanna Greenwell receive 1/6 of Ann's 1/5. This is questionable as it seems to say Martin, deceased heir of Ann gets one fifth of Martin French's estate but as his namesake it might be that he was so favored; however if we remove Martin from Ann's list she has only five heirs yet each is said to receive 1/6 of her share; I vote for leaving Martin with his 1/6. Ann for some reason has named Susanna Greenwell, probably a niece, possibly a sister-in-law, as equal heir as her children. Now we have three strays left from the whole bunch of names: Eleanor Brown and Dorothy and George Cissell. Eleanor is NOT an infant, and perhaps is guardian of one or more of the infants. Dorothy and George are infants, finally identified as "of Catherine Cissell, representative of Ann Yates." My imagination has run dry. I can't even guess what they're doing here, but I do offer you this list as a possible revision of Martin French's heirs. Mary French Greenwell--one fifth to her heir Samuel James French--one fifth Raphael French--one fifth Ignatius French--1/5, half of which to each heir Eleanor and John French Ann French Yates--one fifth divided among her six heirs Barton, Martin, Ignatius, William, Eleanor Yates and Susanna Greenwell. Anyone care to explain the Cissells? jg seattle