Mike, Thank you for the helpful comments. My next step was, as you say, to "sift through" the deeds. I went the KY route several years ago, spending four days at the KY Archives and stopping in Lewis and Mason counties for research. The Bell and Margaret Maddux family is slow to give up its secrets! And unfortunately the KY records from the time period are few and far between. And Richard, Well, consider yourself hugged! I rechecked the online deed index and this is another case where the deed is not indexed under the grantor's name. Maybe it's standard for the MD indexes, but I've encountered 3 index oversights just for this one family grouping. In case anyone else is interested, or just for posterity, here's the story regarding this Maddux-Walston connection: In Dec 1773 Bell Maddux of Somerset Co wrote his will; he mentioned wife Margrit, son Bable, and daughters Cathren, Nancy, Betty, Rachel, Emela and Lanty Billings Sheppard. On 23 Mar 1783, Margaret Maddux and son Zorobable "formerly" of Somerset Co conveyed the lands of Bell Maddux (Ruscomon, Daniels Denn, Conveniency, Cow Quarter) to Merrill Maddux of Somerset Co. (Somerset Co Deed G: 374+) [Zorabable appeared in the 1781 Somerset Co court records for commiting a robbery. Was this their impetus to get out of town?] On 13 Aug 1784, Merrill and Comfort Maddux of Somerset Co conveyed land in Worcester Co (Riggans Addition) to Margaret Maddux. (Worcester Co Deed L: 26-27) [her son Zorabable Maddux was taxed on Riggins Addition in 1783 in Worcester Co] On 27 Oct 1791, Margaret Maddux conveyed "Riggans Addition" to Chares Walston. (Worcester Deed O: 433-434; not in grantor index under Maddux) In Mar 1797 Margaret Maddux of Worcester Co wrote her will; she mentioned daughters Cataron Ruke and Lanty Shepherd, and son-in-law Charles Walston. On 15 Feb 1802, Merrill Maddux of Somerset Co conveyed "Oak Ridge" (contiguous to "Riggans Addition") to Charles Walston. (Worcester Co Deed V: 100) On 7 Jun 1802, Charles and Nancy Walston conveyed "Oak Ridge" to John Powell. (Worcester Co Deed V: 151; deed indexed as "George Walston") On 18 Oct 1805, Charles and Nancy Walston conveyed "Riggans Addition" and "Content" to William Powell Sr. (Worcester Co Deed X: 397-398; not in grantor index under Walston) A Charles Walston, presumably the one from Worcester Co, is enumerated in the 1810 census of Fleming Co, KY; he is then enumerated in the 1820 census for Lewis Co, KY. He purchased land in Lewis Co in 1810, 1811, and 1812. He settled in the same area where Zorabable Maddux, son of Bell and Margaret Maddux, settled in 1794. The Walston surname disappears from Lewis Co in 1830 and starts appearing in Pickaway Co, OH - the same area where Zorabable Maddux and his descendants went to live. . Returning to my original question, Charles Walston definitely had a wife named Nancy from 1802 to 1805. Bell Maddux named daughter Nancy in his will in 1773. Margaret Maddux called Charles her son-in-law in 1797. The evidence certainly suggests (but does not prove) that Nancy Maddux was the wife of Charles Walston. Possibly more evidence will turn up, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Now, who was Merrill Maddux and how was he related to Bell Maddux? Were William and John Powell also related by marriage? A William Powell witnessed Margaret's will, and Charles and Nancy Walston conveyed "Riggans Addition" to a William Powell Sr. Their other property, "Oak Ridge", was conveyed to John Powell . Too many questions, too little time....