This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.counties.franklin/2138.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Garry, Thanks so much for this info (I'm new to this board and relatively new to Western Massachusetts research). The post to which he's referring is here: http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.counties.franklin/1049.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx and describes how Franklin Co. didn't come into existence until 1812, so that any land deed records (and other records) prior to that time would be found in Hampshire Co., (i.e., in Northampton). A subsequent poster said that they did find a land deed from 1792 in Franklin County, so perhaps Franklin has copies of land deeds prior to 1812. And Garry, your explanation of this sheds light on why someone from Warwick would have been taken to Northampton to be tried for a crime (back in 1778). I'd always wondered about that. Now I get it. Thanks. AND, I have some changes to make to my GEDCOM because I think I've always referred to Warwick as in Franklin Co., even for events that took place prior to 1812. Thank you very much for the clarification! -- Jillaine Smith Washington DC