Hi, all -- I hope there are on the list many gurus like Sherlock Holmes with skillful sleuthing, logic, curisoity, and imagination (smile) to help me identify the relationship between Margaret Hart-Ely Butcher*** and Reuben S. Butcher after you have read their deed to Reuben S. Butcher (RSB, henceforth) in the fourth passage. ***N.B.: Elizabeth Hart (1788-1824) and Elijah Hart (1792-1818) were children of Edward Hart-Nancy Ann Stout. Margaret Hart (1789-1867) was dau. of Daniel Hart-Margaret Bunn. Both Edward and Daniel were brothers of John Hart-Deborah Scudder; therefore, Margaret was married to her first cousin Elijah Hart. Elizabeth married Ely Butcher in 1804 and died in 1824. Widowed Margaret Hart married Ely Butcher in 1825. The Hart family were in Hardy County (now Randolph Co.), Va. before Ely Butcher and his parents moved there from Loudoun Co. Va.shortly before the turn of the 19th century. RSB was born 11 May 1801 in Randolph County, Va. His death certificate reads as follows: Source: Death Book 1, p. 36, Reuben S. Butcher, widower, farmer, died March 15, 1883, age 82 years five mos.; cause of death -- old age; father - Eli Butcher. Recorded in Randolph County Court. It was 26 March 1833 when his name appeared in Randolph Co. Courthouse's record for the first time. He married Rachel Wilmoth (1814-1873), dau. of John Wesley Wilmoth - Elizabeth Anna Kettel/Kittle. RSB's name appears twice in Historian Hu Maxwell's History of Randolph County: as "justice of peace from 1869 to 1873" on page 225 and as father of Baxter Butcher that married A. Rebecca Daniels on page 519. Anne Rebecca Daniels' aunt Amanda Melvina Daniels married Ely Butcher-Margaret Hart's youngest son Creed W. Butcher. RSB's youngest daughter Elizabeth Ann Butcher married Daniel Hart (source: Lilliard Wilmoth's "Wilmoth, Wilmot, Wilmet" which does not show Daniel Hart's birthdate or parentage). My research on Reuben S. Butcher's census records from 1840 to 1880 shows a number of Harts as neighbors of RSB. The deed of Margaret Hart-Ely Butcher to RSB does not show the relationship between them. My question is: Why did they grant land to RSB? Ely Butcher was the oldest Butcher in Randolph County. He died in Dec. 1862. So I hope that some gurus on the list will help me with this puzzle after reading the deed as follows. Source: Randolph County Courthouse Deed Book, p. 299 The Transfer of a Deed of Ely Butcher and Margaret Hart to Reuben S. Butcher This deed made this 13th day of May in the year 1856, between Ely Butcher and Margaret his wife of the first part to Ruben S. Butcher of the other part, all of the County of Randolph and State of Virginia, One dollar in hand paid to Ely Butcher's wife for signing the deed, the parties of the first part doth convey to the party of the second part, a certain tract of land lying on the East side of Cheat Mountnain, Beginning at a birch (?) and maple 500 poles from the Southwest corner of a tract of land deed Ebenezer Melvin (?) to Chenoweth and Petro, thence East 100 poles to a spruce by Lick River, thence down the Lick River 160 poles to the bank of Cheat River, thence down the river to a birch and cucumber, Kelley's corner, thence running with his lines to the Chenoworth lines, thence South 160 poles to the beginning, to contain 100 acres more or less. Ely Butcher (Seal) Margaret Butcher (Seal) Virginia Clerk's Office of Randolph County, to wit: This deed from Ely Butcher to Ruben S. Butcher was presented in said office before the Clerk and was acknowledged by the said Ely Butcher. Teste: J. W. Crawford, Clerk. State of West Virginia, Randolph County Court Clerk's Office: July 24, 1895. The foregoing deed of Conveyance together with the certificate of the acknowlegment, was this day presented in said office and admitted to record. Teste: Floyd J. Triplett, Clerk ___________ Jean Boutcher Boucher, Boutcher, Bucher, Butcher Researcher Washington, D.C.