I have sent this message to a few North Carolina rootsweb sites. Perhaps you may find this information helpful in searching for some of your Virginia roots. As Virginians like to say *Where it all began.* I have not been paying close attention to the increasing number of records which are becoming available in Virginia, whence came MANY of our early North Carolina ancestors, according to noted genealogists of North Carolina. Few came in by sea because of the barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina--the Outer Banks! I know many of my early ancestors in North Carolina dropped down from as far away as Fairfax Co., VA to Orange Co. from which was formed from Caswell Co. in NC. So many gaps in my Virginia lines--so that I cannot link them to their progeny [I think] in North Carolina. While prowling the Library of Virginia website--the part which contains the words *what we have* I discovered there are burned counties databases--two of them. The explanation is that these documents were found when the LVA staff in recent years sorted and archived the chancery court records gathered from various counties. It may be worthwhile surfing [when you have really hit a brick wall--or cannot sleep]. Counties are given, names are given, and dates, and a category for the document [will, etc.] Who knows? You may find a missing link--especially since a good many former residents of colonial Hanover Co., VA dropped down to Granville Co., NC and Caswell Co., two of the counties I most find relatives--large families, of course. I copied part of the explanation from LVA--it may not transfer adequately to rootsweb--much stuff on the internet does not--different computer language, I think. Take a look for yourself. The URL www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave Here is the part about Burned Counties Jurisdiction. This database contains a growing collection of records originally recorded in courts or jurisdictions that subsequently suffered record losses. These records are from higher or appeal courts, most of which do not presently exist. Among the jurisdictions included in this database are the _General Court_ (http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/burned_juris/Jurisdiction_info.htm) , the _[Supreme] Court of Appeals_ (http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/burned_juris/Jurisdiction_info.htm#Supreme) , the _High Court of Chancery_ (http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/burned_juris/Jurisdiction_info.htm#Supr eme) , the various _Superior Courts of Chancery_ (http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/burned_juris/Superior_Courts_info.htm) , and the various _District Courts_ (http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/burned_juris/District_%20Court_info.htm) . These records were found while processing chancery causes and other locality materials. The database contains records from collections housed and processed at the Library of Virginia as well as those processed in localities. Here is the part about Burned Record Counties Database. Burned Record Counties Database This database contains a growing collection of local court records, principally deeds and probate records, found while processing chancery cases and other locality materials. The database contains records from collections housed and processed at the Library of Virginia as well as those processed in localities. These records were generally used as exhibits in a court case. The originals remain with the court materials being processed, but photocopies are made and are indexed in this database. The copies are filed together in an artificial collection - the BURNED RECORDS COUNTY COLLECTION - and are readily accessed through the Archives Research Room at the Library of Virginia. Please check this database periodically as this is an ongoing project. Hope you find your missing ancestors--and their extended families! And check the neighboring counties!!!! E.W.Wallace ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour