Dear Sandra and all the other Harkeys, If I were granted one wish, it might be that all the John HARKEYs born before 1820 would descend from heaven and identify themselves once and for all! Sandra, would you be able to post the will of John M. HARKEY to the list? I have posted the few wills I have, but I don't have John M.'s. I think they're really interesting and useful to everyone. Also, please give the date of the posting in which you gave the birthdates and -places (and deathdates?) for your HARKEY ancestors. I remember reading your postings, but evidentlyl I have filed them (to use the term loosely) in a place where I can't find them. You're right that John HARKEY (b abt 1795/96) wasn't named as a son in the will of John HARKEY (b abt 1765), but that doesn't mean much, since the will identifies only three of the children by name: Susannah (special bequest) and Martin and Solomon as executors. Joseph Harkey, in his HARKEY booklet, says that John (b abt 1795/96), son of John (b abt 1765), married Eleanor RITCH/RITCHIE. Did you find that to be a different John? (Is anyone else haunted by the dim memory of an old German naming pattern that involves the same first name for all the sons in a family?) I realize I'm no help at all. This stuff is tough! Alma Roark Johnson [email protected]