Drat, too. I "assumed" the wrong John as Ann's uncle. Hm. I actually recall doing this very tract's title history some years ago and getting confused then, but having to move on. Well, I'll take another look, but I'm not sure I have enough on all the family threads here to resolve anything without a deeper dive than I'd be able to sign on for. Alas, ten minutes just isn't enough time for some puzzles ... But we do at least have the several 1723-25 Judicial references to draw from, connecting Ann then directly to Alice and the neighboring Walkers in Mount Vernon, etc., as well as to Ellis. Probablility is still high that she was Thomas', I'd think. By the way, I made a couple of thoughtless typos in my earlier rundown of those Judicials. The final two entries, where I'd entered "Alice", should have read "Ann": f. 121 Nov court 1723. Ann Shiles appeared against the parties from f. 85 above, in compliance with her bond. f. 137 Mar court 1723/4. Ann Shiles was paid 150 lbt *by the defendants* in the action from f. 85 above for 3 days in evidence for the prosecution. (Even so, the parties were no-billed by the Grand Jury.) John -----Original Message----- From: Miller's Choice <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Fri, Aug 20, 2010 4:59 pm Subject: Re: [LDR] Ann the fornicator From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> <whereby Ann Shiles had morphed into Ann Huggins, wife of Benjamin Huggins and niece of John Shiles, ergo the daughter of Thomas Shiles.> Not quite that simple.  Despite the helpful land records references posted by John, all of which I have pulled and since read, Ann Shiles of the fornication case did not morph into Ann Huggins. Ann Huggins was the daughter of Thomas Rencher who wrote his will in 1764, probated 28 April 1772 (EB5:2), wherein he named his daughters Ann Huggins and Bridget Chapley.  Those two daughters were the ones in the deeds.  Rencher married Bridget Shiles, daughter of John Shiles, d. 1714 and sister of the well landed John Shiles who died intestate c1760.  Thomas Rencher had part of Erlindy and Rencher's Security in now Mt. Vernon.   My thought at the time I initially responded was that I questioned why two of the three daughters of Thomas Rencher and none of his sons inherited John Shiles' land as that was impossible by operation of law.  It's looking like Bridget Shiles was mother only to Ann (m. 1) Wm Waller; 2) Benj. Huggins) and Bridget Rencher (m. Solomon Chaplain) and that Thomas Rencher's other children were by a now unknown wife.  Drat.  Of course I don't like this, because I lose my Shiles line, but the records tell us what they tell us.  I'll have to dig for a new mommy for William Rencher (d. 1803), son of Thomas, unless I can figure out why on 7 July 1764 William Rencher and Benjamin Huggins deeded to Alice Waller and William Waller for £80 all the lands which descended to Ann Huggins, wife of Benjamin Huggins and mother to said Alice and William on the death of John Shiles, dec'd, Ann being the niece of Shiles; the land lying and being on the north side of the Wicomico River near the lower ferry on the condition that the land stay in the possession of Ann Huggins for her natural life; and also sell 100 acres lying on the creek where Robert Crockett formerly lived (C:224).   John, how do you think my boy William Rencher weighs in on the above deed?   Back to Ann Shiles:  In Ann's fornication case, which John graciously shared with us, Merrick Ellis, gentleman, put up the surety of 600 pounds of tobacco so the county would not be burdened with the maintenance of the child.   Merrick Ellis was wealthy, landed and within the family unit of Ann Shiles, as his wife, Alice Elzey, daughter of Col. Arnold Elzey of Almodington, was an older, half first cousin to Ann if I've got it figured correctly.  John is absolutely correct in that we have to rely upon what the records actually say.  It is folly to impose interpretations from other locales on Somerset County actions, particularly New England, which I consider the polar opposite. Becky *************************************** QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or UNSUBSCRIBING? Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message