Hi Trudy -- I am also a descendent of William Sarvis -- and I have actually written a very detailed history book about the Sarvis/Servies families. I'm also involved with other Sarvis researchers throughout the country. What descendant line are you from? I am from the line of William's 6th child, William Anderson Sarvis. My website: http://www.fondfood.homepage.com Some detailed info. on William senior for you: William first paid taxes in Shelby County, KY on August 7, 1800. The actual 1800 census for Kentucky was destroyed by fire. County records show that William and Mary sold 51 1/4 acres of land located at the "mouth of Fox Run" on March 13, 1824 to James Storts for $615. There is no record of deed by which he bought the land. Neither William nor Mary could sign their names. William then bought 109 acres of land from Peter and Lucy Kearns on the west bank of Fox Run on October 3, 1825. William died before Nov. 30, 1826, along with one son (John A.) from unknown causes, that being the date of an appraisal of his estate. The farm acquired in 1825 was sold in 1830 to a daughter of the Governor of Kentucky named Letitia Todd. Widow Sarvis, her children (married and unmarried) and several family friends then migrated to Montgomery County, Indiana. There is much known record and detail of the family from that point. Widow Sarvis was Mary "Polly" Shelton daughter of Wilson Shelton and sister to Margaret (Shelton) Harding. In 1810 Wilson Shelton and his daughter Margaret drove a herd of cattle from Stafford County Virginia to Shelby County, Kentucky. Margaret married Mason Harding at the end of the trip. It is unclear when/where Mary met William, but it seems likely that she was already married and living with William in Kentucky when her father and sister migrated there because their first child, Jonathan, was born on April 11, 1798, and William had paid taxes in 1800. The 1810 and 1820 census as well as the appraisal of the estate do not list any slaves in the household of William Sarvis. This is contrary to a family report that he was a slave owner. I hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to correspond further with me personally. Elizabeth Crabtree Sleuthful@aol.com