Greetings list, I am seeking information on the family of Willis Knight (wife Mary/Polly). In his 1846 will, he sent some slaves to his daughter Nancy Knight Mayo "now living in Mississippi". This is a crucial clue that I need to follow up on. I think one of those slaves was my ancestor, but under a different name. I need help figuring out exactly where Willis Knight resided (township) relative to the Sparta Township in 1846. ---Here is a link to his will online http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/NC/EdgecombeWill/22 (I had submitted it myself, I am "Sankofa") ---General Land Records Office Online has no North Carolina records >From the will, I cannot figure out where his land was, exactly. ---Were there townships in 1846? Were they the same as in 1870 and 1880? ---Can I use a census to figure out where he lived? Thanks, ---Karmella __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

Karmella, You need to find the deeds for when Willis Knight acquired his property and for when it was distributed after his death. I would also look for the probate court records and the will folder. There will be much more information on the settlement of his estate, than is found in a will. Once you have the legal description of the property, you should be able to locate the part of Edgecomb County where he lived. Since North Carolina was one of the original colonies, they used the metes and bounds method of describing property location, not section, range and township that was used in most of the westward expansion. Edgecomb county may have plat maps that will identify the property for you after you get the description. All of this depends on whether these records still exist in Edgecomb. Good Luck, Marleen Van Horne