Would like to thank everyone who has helped. Does anyone know of a will by Thomas Lanier (b. 1780) m. Theana? If so does it state that George W. Lanier IS his son. This is what I have to work with for now and hope to find that connection with Thomas Lanier. My Lanier names came from an old family bible. Hezekiah and Abey Lanier/Lanear(my gggg grandparents) 1840 New Hanover Co. North Carolina Census 1 Male 40-50 (b. 1790-1800 Hezekiah) 1 Female 30-50 (b. 1800-1810 Abey) 1 Male 15-20 (b. 1820-1825) 1 Female 15-20 (b. 1820-1825) 1 Male 10-15 (b. 1825-1830) 1 Female 10-15 (b. 1825-1830) (Sarah b. 1829 my ggg Grandmother) 1 Male To-5 (b. 1835-1840) (George Washington b. 1838 my ggg Uncle) 1 Female To-5 (b. 1835-1840) I have looked thru all US indexes and 1840 is the only place I find Hezekiah Lanier. Have been able to make one trip to Wilmington Library and found nothing there but the 1840 Census with his name. When I searched the 1850 NC census for George I came up with George W. living with Thomas. Sarah and my ggg grandfather in New Hanover co. The family near them had a Susan Lanier living with them and showed an age of 33 and next to that family there was a Rebecca Lanier age 3 living with them. This was all family living near one another. Did Hezekiah die after 1850 and his wife? Did their children go to live with someone else? If this is my George W. Lanier/Lanear living with Thomas and Theana what relationship is Thomas to Hezekiah. Could Hezekiah be Thomas's son from first marriage or could he be a brother to Thomas? Could anyone give me any other ideas of what to look for? Can find no burial records either. Ashley