Regarding the STRINGER family, and John Jr. specifically, said to have been born in Edgecombe in 1714. The history is important in having a clear understanding of where a person might have lived, legally, in a given year. For instance, as early as 1722, there were only two counties in North Carolina: Albemarle and Bath. In 1739 all "precincts" were designated "counties." In 1741, Edgecombe and Northampton became counties, the areas taken from Bertie County. Then, in 1746, Granville took its area from Edgecombe. The records of those precincts and counties, as well as North Carolina Higher Court records, must be considered and checked for possible family records during those early years. Donald M. Ricks Nashville, Tennessee