Dear Group and Archives, Below is a statement made by Thomas PUGH Esq. in 1759 to the court regarding a piece of disputed land between Needham BRYAN and James ABINGTON. These two have been going at it since abt. 1752 at court. In the earlier records I found under Civil Actions I couldn't tell what the court case was because it didn't say, I could only see who the case involved. Now I read a bit more of what may have been going on. And I also, have a hunch that the research problem I have been trying to solve for a few years now, may be hidden within these types of records. Many of you know that the problem I have encountered is...How did Michael BRYAN and his wife Olive obtain 100ac of land that they sold in 1757 to Aaron ELLIS (who later married Michael's mother Catherine, widow of the William BRYAN that died in 1744 in Bertie). A brief land description: Aaron ELIS his heirs and assigns forever and messuage or tract of land scituate lying in Bertie County of No Carolina containing 100 acres of land joyning to Robert HODGES patent line and SW to a corner forked Spanish Oak then east to Little Roquist. There was no will for William BRYAN giving the land to Michael. There was no land deed for William with a good land description. Plus William and Catherine had other children. So I am figuring someone else gave that land to Michael and Olive. The witnesses on the deed were James ABINGTON and Elias HODGE. From the statement below, if anyone has a comment or suggestion please share. Thanks, Cathy 1759 25 April Criminal Action Papers 010.326.6 NCArchives April 2002 Cathy Hart Farris (all spelling is as in document) on the outside of the document it reads Thos. PUGH Esqr. May it please the Worshipfull Cort I was sommons to appeair at the Cort to Gave my Evedence in a suit Depending between Needham BRYAN and James ABINTON in the behalf of the Pt. ABINTON my best?(beast?) hath got out of my way that I can not find it and I am not able to walk to far if I can get abest(beast?) in time I well com to cort not with standing I know nothing of the afair of thair law but I neaver hearrd a word of thair bargin of either side I see Needham BRYAN schow James ABINTON a line of marked trees and told him the Sd ABINTON that should be his bounds but whather the sd BRYAN gave it to him or sould it, I know not was I upon oath I naver heard of any sum nor money manchned. April 25th 1759 From yours - To Commd Geo JARNIGAN