Walter Lowrie, an early politician in Washington, DC, is the compiler of a goodly number of land records of early date for Mississippi Territory. His books have recently been reprinted by Southern Historical Press. That genealogical book publisher has a website, but I don't have it at my finger tips. Here are the names of some of his books as taken from the Family History Library catalog [www.familysearch.org] _Early settlers of Louisiana as taken from land claims in the eastern district of the Orleans Territory_ (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=515032&disp=Early+settle rs+of+Louisiana+as+taken+fro) _Early settlers of Mississippi as taken from land claims in the Mississippi Territory_ (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=515035&disp=Early+settlers+of+Mississippi+a s+taken+f) _Early settlers of Missouri as taken from land claims in the Missouri Territory_ (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=515039&disp=Early+settlers+of+Missouri+as+taken+f rom) I believe several of these records have been filmed, and the film can be ordered through a local Family History Center. However, I don't know whether the filmed records have indexes. Another resource is the Bureau of Land Management website: _http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/_ (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/) Sometimes I type in the surname and the State, but since Wilkinson Co. adjoins Louisiana, also do a search of Louisiana land patents on the above URL. These early families, many who came from South Carolina, intermarried, I find. Many of the record of early Wilkinson Co. MS are held by the Family History Library and can be borrowed from the FHL for a fee. E.W.Wallace with Wilkinson Co. relatives who came from SC [Sumter Co.] ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.