Jeannette, Thanks for the information. I will be looking for this book. I have a Timothy Howell who was born ca1800 VA/NC??? who fathered James Edward Howell born 1833 Gates Co.,NC. Timothy dies before 1840, because his wife is remarried and shows up with her new husband in 1840 Gates Co.,NC census and 1850 also. I really am beginning to think my Timothy was laid by a buzzard and hatched by the sun. Thanks, Jackie Howell > The authors of this book looked at all the Howells in Loudon County in > 1771, including Hugh Howell and his family. They then tried to match up the > information into families. They found eight families or households bearing > the Howell name, and the methods they used to attempt to sort them out are > excellent examples of careful genealogical work. If you can find the book > in > your area, it may be worth studying. > > Jeannette >