Jane----In your last message, Feb. l, you mentioned the Tyrrell Co. website and referred to the Estate Records, John Hooker and Mary Hooker. I went to the website and found this most interesting. Today, I went to the San Antonio Library and found the book--"Tyrrell County North Carolina Estate Records l734-l800," abstracted by Dr. Stephen E. Bradley, Jr. Sure enough, on p. 25 I found the following:-- "l95. HOOKER, JOHN Apr Ct. l788. Bond for Nathan Hooker to administer estate of John Hooker "suggested to be dead." Bondsmen: John Warrington, Hezekiah Spruill. l789. Heirs of John Hooker were Nathan Hooker, George Browning for his wife, Benjamin Spruill son of Benjamin. Nathan Hooker and Ann (x) Hooker were executors." I interpret this as follows: The John Hooker, deceased, is the young boy, John Hooker, b. ca. l757, who, at the age of l2, was kidnapped by his brother-in-law, Abram Jennett, in l769 to "New Spain." Remember that in l787, Nathan Hooker, brother of John, petitioned the Gen. Assembly of NC, to settle the title to some land that had been devised to John Hooker, by his father, Stephen. Well, this is the following year, l788. Now, Nathan has gone into Court to have his brother, John, declared legally dead and is attempting to settle the estate. The George Browning or Brownrigg m. Ann Hooker (Amelia Ann), on Oct. 6, l783. Benjamin Spruill, son of Benjamin, is the half-brother of John Hooker. Remember that Rosanna Swain Hooker, widow of Stephen Hooker, m. Benjamin Spruill in l767. The Ann(x) Hooker is apparently the 2nd wife of Nathan. Now, there is also the following: "l96. HOOKER, MARY July Ct. l786. Nathan Hooker was administrator for his wife dec'd. Bondsmen: Benj. Spruill, John Tarkinton. Oct. Ct./ l786. Petition of Nathan Hooker administrator of his dec'd wife Mary. John Sedgix dec'd was father of sd Mary. Sd Sedgix made his will 23 Feb. l768, making a bequest to sd Mary, then the wife of Owen Williams. Ann Sedgix was sd John's wife. Sd Owen Williams died and sd Mary married Joseph Whedbee who died, then marrying the petitioner in July l783. She died. Sd Ann Sedgix died l78-, appointing Hezekiah Spruill and Simon Spruill her executors. Petition to receive his dec'd's wife share ." This 2nd entry clears up a few things. This is Nathan, son of Stephen, who left the will in l766. This is all starting to come together. Also, on p. 49, there is the estate record of Martha Swain, l765. In the division of the estate, l7 Aug. l765, mention is made of the heirs of [her sister], "Elisebeth Hooker." This is Elizabeth Mary (Swain ) Hooker, lst wife of Sheriff John Hooker. I have reached some other tentative conclusions but first, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on the above. Kyle