Subject: Re: [NCBERTIE] Grist Mill Petition George RYAN Esq. Dear Group, I have rec'd a few thoughts on the Grist Mill Petition date. I was hoping it would be an early date, but here is what John sent. Thanks John. I wrote: I found this Grist Mill Petition by George RYAN, Esq. for the area of Salmon Creek. There are many signatures of people that live in the area. A William BRYANT is among them. There is no date, does someone recognize a time frame? John wrote: Cathy, I have a number of ancestors on the list and I have a copy of the same petition. My best guess was that it was ca. 1800. On another look at the document, I agree that it was earlier than 1800. Lamb Hardy signed it, and he died in 1761. John Cake signed it and he died late 1770 or early 1771. If the William Cowen (Cowand) is William, I , then he died ca 1780. By the way, many of the names were signed by one person--look at the handwriting of the signatures. William Cowen was actually William Cowand, my ancestor. What had me a little confused was that there was a William Cowand,Jr., and a John Cake, Jr. and I didn't know which ones I was dealing with. I would not put it any earlier than 1750. John