I mentioned, I believe, in a previous message, that an index to North Carolina wills, up to 1900, which are frequently held by the NC Archives--but some in counties--has been compiled some years ago by Thornton W. Mitchell. There are three Ramsom Harrises listed in this book.  I will give the codes of the counties, and then give the *translation*.  And then there is one R. C.Harris After the name of the testator is the county code as used in North Carolina archives; WB is will book.  The year, I believe you can spot.  AR = will at NC Archives Harris, R. C. - 078 -1866 - WB 18-451; AR (078 is Person Co.; 1866 is the year recorded) Harris,Ransom - 100 - 1831 - WB 33/337 AR (100 is Warren Co.) 1831 is year recorded) Harris, Ransom - 032 - 1841 - WB 1/369  (032 is Davidson Co.) [not indicated where will is held] Harris,Ransom W. - 046 - 1886 - WB E/427 AR (046 is Guilford Co.) Source:  Thornton W. Mitchell, North Carolina Wills: A Testator Index, 1665-1900 Corrected and revised edition [Baltimore:  Genealogical Publ. Co., 1st edition 1987; corrected and revised edition, in one volume, second printing 1993], p 218. Your ancestor may have held land in another county, but that county may have divided, and the will may be held in another parent county than the one in which your ancestor may be found originally (i.e. land records, tax records, military records, etc.)