Jane-In l787, Nathan Hooker (son of Stephen, who d. ca l767), petitioned the NC General Assembly regarding some land of his brother, John, who at the age of l2, in l769, was kidnapped and carried off to "New Spain in America." The Nathan and John mentioned here were sons of Stephen Hooker, who left the will in l766, Tyrrell Co., NC. The petition and additional documents can be found in "State Records of North Carolina," Vol. 20, as cited in my previous message. Now I know that Nathan is also referred to as Jonathan in the records, which complicates the matter, but the memorial was presented by his stepfather, Benjamin Spruill. And interestingly, the seductor of young l2 year old John was Abram Jennett, whose daughter Ann m. James Swain, the sister of Rosanna Swain who first married Stephen Hooker, and then Benjamin Spruill. At any rate, this has led me to believe that young John, b. l757, son of Stephen, left the scene rather early and could not be the John who left the will in Tyrrell Co., in l790. As to the Stephen, Jr., who appears on Tyrrell Co., deeds in the l760s, I have assumed he was the son of John, who m. Elizabeth M. Swain. Stephen, who left the will in l766, did not list a son named Stephen. Also, the term Jr., does not necessarily indicate that the person who signed his name as Jr., is a son of a person by the same name. Stephen Hooker, Jr., may be junior to his uncle Stephen Hooker. There is precedent for this during the colonial time period. These are suppositions that I have made and I welcome you comments. Kyle