I said that we needed to look more closely at the Hodge/Hodges families in Orange County North carolina. I had a chance to check on a few things, so I have a few new rcords and a little more insight into who these families were. First, a couple more early Thomas and William Hodges records March Court 1754 Thomas Hodge appointed constable for the lower part of the County. Orange County N.C. Court Minutes 1752-1761, Book 1, page 60. October Court 1754 Thomas Hodge appraiser with Richard Parker and Miles Parker of a cow and calf found by Thomas Carter. Orange County N.C. Court Minutes 1752-1761, Book 1, page 86. December Court 1756 on the complaint of William Hodges it's ordered that Thomas Noble be summoned to appear at the next court to be held for this county on the second Tuesday in March next to answer for some ill Intreatment given by him unto an Orphan Child now in his care. Orange County N.C. Court Minutes 1752-1761, Book 1, page 189. December Court 1756 A deed of sale from Bartholomew Shaddock to Henry Hodges for 200 acres of land proved by the oath of William Read and ordered recorded. Orange County N.C. Court Minutes 1752-1761, Book 1, page 191. August Court 1760 road order for the road from Collins Ford on Haw River to Hoges Ford on Deep River. Tithables include John Brantley and Moses Ginn. Orange County N.C. Court Minutes 1752-1761, Book 1, page 433. The "Henry Hodges" deed you will recognize as the same one in the deed index as Henry Shaddock to Bartholomew Hodges as follows: Dec. 14, 1756: Bartholomew Hodges to Henry Shaddock sale of 200 acres I am still inclined to think that Hodges Ford on Deep River relates to the following entry: William Hodges and William Dawson 1751 entry Bladen Co. south side of Deep River about 1 1/4 miles above its mouth and up sd river. I can't find out where Collins Ford on Haw River is. Maybe near Collins Creek in northwestern Chatham County. If so, the road runs down the Haw River. In those days, presetn day Chatham County was part of Orange and also the northern part of Lee County. The northern boundary of neighboring Moore County is the "Granville Line". This was the southern boundary of the district owned by Lord Granville. If you extended that line across present day Lee County, that would be the old boundary between Orange County and Cumberland County. If we look at the Orange County Register of Deeds, we see the following Hodge/Hodges, in addition to those I already pointed out: Aug. 14, 1759 Earl of Granville to Moses Ginn 133 acres Aug. 14, 1764 John Warren to John Hodge 100 Witness: William Chambers Aug. 14, 1764 Michael Dixon to John Hodge 55 Witness: William Chambers Feb. 10, 1767 John Dowell to John Hodge 350 acres acknowledged Jul. 26, 1768 Michael Dixon to John Hodge 30 acres acknowleged The first one I included because it appeared that the land sold by Isham Hodges of Marlboro County, S.C., on the Rocky River in Chatham County was apparently first granted to Moses Ginn. The next group of records appears to relate to the following: Apr. 20, 1771 deed of John Hodge of Orange County to Thomas Barret for L100 200 acres on Hico R. sold by Michael Dixon and John Warren to John Hodge. Orange Co. (N.C.) Deed Book 3, page 546. Hyco River (or Creek) is a tributary of the Dan River lying mostly in present-day Person County, North Carolina. This would have been in Caswell County when Caswell was split off from Orange in 1777. Person was split off from Caswell in 1791. In Person County, N.C., Deed Book C, pages 197-98, there are two deeds from Isaac, Samuel, and David Hodge conveying two tracts owned by their father John Hodge. This seems to me to shed some additional light onthe following records that I had posted earlier: Aug. 25, 1765 Mary Welch of Halifax Co. to John Hodges of Orange Co., North Carolina, for 10 pounds, 180 ac. on Br. of Wynns Cr. Bordering Watkins, McCune. Recorded Sept. 19, 1765. Wit. Peter (X) McCune, Wm Williams. Halifax Co. (Va.) Deed Book 5, page 515. Sept. 16, 1766 deed of James Warrin of Halifax Co. to John Hodg of Orange Co. for 15 pounds 125 ac. on Mill Cr. Wit. James Warrin, Timo. Warrin, John Smith, John Rodgers. Rec. Sept. 18, 1766. Halifax Co. (Va.) Deed Book 6, page 124. Sept. 18, 1766 deed of John Smith to John Hoge of Orange Co. for 15 pounds, 305 ac. on Mill Cr. John Smith by power of atty for John Smith. Wit. Esaias Harbour, Talmon Harbour, Joel Harbour. Halifax Co. (Va.) Deed Book 6, page 124. Mar. 16, 1768 John Hodge witness to Henry Dickson revocation of power of attorney. Rec. Aug. 18, 1768. Halifax Co. (Va.) Deed Book 7, page 196. Aug. 1769 deed from John Hodges of Orange Co. for 125 ac. on his creek acknowledged. Deed with several indorsements proved by the oaths of two witnesses and ordered recorded. Halifax Co. (Va.) Plea Book 6, page 247. Dec. 29, 1769 To Thomas Hodges for his maintenance - 500. Vestry Book of Antrim Parish (Halifax Co., Va.). Jan. 10, 1770 Deed of John Hodge of Orange Co., N.C., to Barnet Cearnall of Halifax Co. for 20 pounds, 195 acres waters of Winns Cr. beg. at a post oak in James Watkins line. Signed John Hodge. Wit. Ambrose Foster, James Harper, david Perryman, Wm. Robinson, Andrew Ferguson. Recorded Apr. 19, 1770. Halifax Co. (Va.) Deed Book 7, page 484. There are a number of early Orange County tax lists. Here is a link: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncorange/data/taxlist/earlytax.htm What is interesting is that no Hodge or Hodge appears in 1755. Only in 1779 do we find John, George, and William Hodge. If the John Hodge above was living on Hyco Creek, he would not have been in Orange County in 1779. I checked a book of North Carolina land entries starting in 1778. I think the reason the book starts then is that the Royal land offices closed when the Revolution started, and it took a while before the colonies established their own system. Anyway, starting in 1778, John, William and George Hodge made a number of entries on Haw River at Back Creek. This is just east of present-day Burlington, N.C. in Alamance County. I will stop there for now. More on Orange County tomorrow.