Years ago, when I first became interested in this crazy hobby of genealogy, I attended a lecture by a well-known genealogist-historian-lecturer-author on doing genealogical research in Virginia. She commented, If you are researching Virginia, then research ALL the counties. I thought the lady was nuts, until I started digging into my father's colonial ancestors' lives. She was and is so right! My Dad's paternal grandmother was a direct descendant of the 1714 Germmana immigrant, John Kemper [whose many descendants sometimes bear that frustrating first name!] Here is an example for the colonial Holtzclaw family, whose records I find in many Virginia counties, including Orange Co., although Jacob Holtzclaw and his wife Catherine were residents in 1748 of Prince William Co., which divided into other counties--of course!!! Some of the Holtzclaw descendants migrated to Kentucky. Perhaps these abstracts will help you find some of your *missing* Germanna relatives: By the way, if you know the relationship of Jacob Holtzclaw and his Catherine, of ca. 1748, to the grantees in these deeds, will you post the info on this list--so that we can all share your knowledge--and perhaps in turn help you with some knotty genealogical problems. If you use these excerpts in your own notes, please add the citations, which I have tried to give, in most cases. (Your descendants will ask: Where did you get this information? Did you make it up?) Submitted by E.W.Wallace First, two abstracted land grants for land in Stafford Co. and later in Fairfax Co. (Note how the counties kept dividing. Also, note that this first Northern Neck land grant is dated 1724, ten years after these first Germanna colonists were imported by Governor Alexander Spotswood. I understand Jacob Holtzclaw was a teacher, and therefore seemed to acquaint himself with the land laws/customs of Virginia in a short time.) Northern Neck Land Grant A-125 Jacob Holtzclaw of Stafford Co. 496 A. 82 Per [perches] in said Co. adj. Wm. Stone, on Broad Run. 9 Feb 1724. (Gertrude E. Gray, VIRGINIA NORTHERN NECK LAND GRANTS, 1694-1742 [Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987, Third printing 1997], p. 79) Northern Neck Land Grant Bk F-293: Jacob Holtzclaw of Pr. William Co. 335 A. in Fairfax Co. Surv. Jacob Lasswell. On Fork of William's Gap Br., adj. George Carter Esq. dec'd. John Hanby, Jacob Pedrick, Fairfax Manor of Leeds. 2 June 1748. (Gertrude E. Gray, VIRGINIA NORTHERN NECK LAND GRANTS, V. II, 1742-1775 [Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988, Third printing 1997], p. 16) Apparently earlier than August 1748, Jacob Holtzclaw and his wife seem to have owned land in Orange Co., VA, which land they sold to persons who probably were relatives of some degree. Orange County Deed Bk 11 pp. 83-84 Indenture 25 Aug 1748 between Jacob Holtzclaw and Catherine, his wife, of Prince William County, and Henry Huffman, of Orange County.. for seventeen pounds .. grants 225 acres .. bounded .. John Young .. Harmon Back's line.... No witnesses Jacob Holtzclaw Recorded Orange County Catherine (X) Holtzclaw 25 August 1748 DB 11 - pp. 84-86 Indenture 25 Aug 174- between Jacob Holtzclaw and Catherine, his wife, of Prince William County, and Harmon Back, of Orange County.. for twenty pounds .. grants 100 acres land in Orange County in the Little Fork of the North Branch of Rappahannock River .. bounded .. Jacob Fishback... No witnesses Jacob Holtzclaw Recorded Orange County Catherine (X) Holtzclaw 25 August 1748 DB 11 - pp. 86-88 Indenture 25 Aug 1748 betwen Jacob Holtclaw and Catherine, his wife, of Prince William County, and John Young, Junr..., and Katherine Young (Infant).. son and daughter of John and Mary Young of Orange County .. for sum of twelve pounds .. grant 200 acres in the North Little Fork of Rapphannock River .. bounded Henry Huffman .. Little Indian Run .. Chisum's line .. to be divided between John Young and Katherine Young in the manner following .. [description of the land] .. to the use of John Young Junr. and residue of land to Katherine Young (reserving to John Young, the Elder, and Mary, his wife, parents of John Young, Junr. and Katherine Young .. the free use of the land during their natural lives... No witnesses Jacob Holtzclaw Recorded Orange County Catherine (X) Holtzclaw 25 August 1748 (Ruth L. and Sam Sparacio, DEED ABSTRACTS OF ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA (1743-1759) [McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1985, second printing], pp. 98-99) **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489