I don't usually make suppositions about genealogy; because, today's supposition might become tomorrow's unproven fact (especially with the internet). These 'facts' also seem to propagate themselves very quickly and become almost impossible to correct. With that be said, here goes: 1. How William and Ann may have become connected to the Quakers? After the death of Ann's parents I believe that she and some of her siblings may have been taken in by her mother's sister Rebecca and her husband Johannes HENDRICKS, who were Quakers. My records were lost due to a computer crash; however, I remember getting an inquiry once from a Hendricks descendent concerning this. This would explain the connection that William and Ann had with the Quakers. 2. The parents of William? There is a record of a William Hacher (sic) s/o John and Dina Hacher baptized in 1700 in the Marnhull, Dorset, England parish records. After 1700 the spelling in the record for John and Dina is changed to Hatcher. I googled John and Dina and found death dates of 1707 for John and Dina, and another of 1720 for John. This seems to be a good possible match for our William, note Williams first born son is named John (possibly after his grandfather) and there is also a son Thomas (possibly after his great grandfather Dorset John's father). 3. William and possibly one sibling (Richard) may have come to the colonies after their parents death as indentures or apprentices (becoming a wheelwright would have required an apprenticeship). Orphaned children were often placed into indenture and/or apprenticeships. That is enough supposition for now and maybe a little more to research. Tks, Gary Hatcher

HATCHER website: http://hatcherfamilyassn.com HALL DNA project: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hall/HDNAtest.htm "If you can't stand the skeletons, stay out of the closet" - Val D Greenwood Gary, I like your thinking and your theory on Ann's possible connection to Quaker relatives makes sense. What I'm not sure about is a connection to Richard. But I am fairly positive there had to be a "brother" or "cousin" with William who would have been the father of Mary Hatcher Sands. Nicholas may be that person or he may have been Mary's brother. Or Joseph, if he was a Hatcher and not Thatcher, could be that person. I also agree that being a wheelwright does not indicate a man of wealth, further reinforcing my idea that Wm may have been older than believed before he was sufficiently able to support a wife/family. Being much more middle class would also reduce his opportunities for showing up in lots of records, making him a good deal harder to find......... And now I eat my words! The names John and Dina rang a bell and, sure enough, they're on our file with son, William, AND a son, Richard. The problem....no idea how most of these kids became attached but I believe most would have come from Brit Bob many eons ago. I'm guessing I was able to find online the Dorset Parish recs for the baptisms of Wm and sister, Liz, but not the other kids. But tell me what google terms you used to find John and Dina. I'd like to update our file if the info you found is solid. Thanks a bunch! New clues to follow up on.....one of these days! Nel