Jo Ann - You have to learn the genealogy of ALL the Virginia counties.  There were about 8 original shires, but as the population grew, the newer counties were formed.  One expert from Utah (editor, lecturer, etc.) says:  If you are searching in Virginia, search ALL the counties.  Good advice, no matter which state you are researching.  I just happen to have bought in the last few years a book:  Ann K. Blomquist, The Vestry Book of Southam Parish Cumberland County, Virginia 1745-1792 [Westminster, MD:  Heritage  Books, 2006] Cumberland Co., south of the James River, as I remember was formed from Goochland Co., which in turn was formed from Henrico Co., (one of the original shires).  The parish boundaries, however, did not always (hardly ever)conformed to the political (county) boundaries.  Same author Blomquist recently had published by Heritage Books Goochland Co. abstracts of court order books 3,4 and 5.  These books are NOT cheap, but hardly any hobbies are cheap.  Even a fisherman has equipment.  Suggestion:  Try the Library of Virginia website [google for it].  A long list of alphabetized subjects may come up.  Go to the L's and look for land patents--the subject will include the Northern Neck land grants [not same as southern Virginia].  Type in your surname, but go to the *end of the line*.  Even in the 21st century, Virginia is issuing land patents, and the newest ones show up first.  Bradley of colonial days will be at the end of the line.  The Bradley names [male of course] show up in the index for the Cumberland Vestry Book:  David, James, James R., John [lots of entries--he must have been a church official]Thomas. The posted price of this book is $27.50 and of course there is shipping costs.  There is a lot of history in this book.  The Anglican church was semi-political.  It took care of widows and orphans;the vestry ordered the processioning of the roads.  It collected the tithes and paid a lot of bills of various kinds.  Also, see if your library or a nearby library has the online database called HeritageQuest [also library version of Ancsry.com]  HeritageQuest has digitized a lot of out-of-copyright books, and you may find lots of family or county histories in it.  Confer with your librarian and get acquainted with World Cat [Dick Eastman's free newsletter on the net has an article about World Cat in the past few days.  Check it out and discuss with your librarian.]  Also check almost daily this free site:  familysearch.org [and also its wiki--*how to* stuff]  Lots of material is being digitized by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and when I am not at the medical office, I am surprised almost daily by that site.  Good luck.  E.W.Wallace Harris Hunters:  Lots of entries for male Harrises, especially one Benjamin.  He must have been a vestryman. ________________________________ From: Jo Ann Burke <jaburke949@aol.com> To: "hdanw@verizon.net" <hdanw@verizon.net> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 7:57 AM Subject: Do you help with other surnames? Hi! My name is Jo Ann Burke. I am descended from Richard Bradley & Ann Bradshaw through John1,2,3, & 4. All were born in Cumberland co., Va.; except Robert, he comes in from England in the 1600's. I think the 4 Johns are born around St. Stephens Parish.  John1's wife is Mary Rhodes; John2's wife is Phoebe Holloway John3's wife is Susannah Rowton (Routon); John4's wife is Lucy(?).http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CA4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Farchiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com%2Fth%2Fread%2FHARRIS-HUNTERS%2F2012-08%2F1345753576&ei=YilbUP6JGJD49gTLsIHoCA&usg=AFQjCNHo38j3fyzQJ6R9Ig25h1rbS9q5Kg Jo Ann Burke