Dear Listers, Can anyone enlighten me as to the earlier origins of the Dudleys mentioned in these two abstracted deeds?  It is believed they were originally in Caroline Co., VA, based on other information cited below:       Granville Co. NC Deed Bk. Q, p. 524:   "Samuel Sneed and wife, Jane Sneed, and Mary Jeter deed to Rachael Dudley of Nottoway Co., VA for all their interests in the land and personal estate that descended to them by the death of William Dudley, deceased. Elizabeth Lee, wife of Andrew Lee, was another heir.  Jan 25, 1801."      (Z. H. Gwynn's KINFOLKS of Granville County, NC, p. 47): William Clayton Torrence, writing in WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY, Series I, Vol. XXVI, 1917-1918 (Kraus reprint 1966), p 42, abstracted the following deed of Nottoway Co., VA:      January 25, 1802.  Samuel Sneed and Jane, his wife, and Mary Jeter, of Granville Co., North Carolina to Rachel Dudley, of Nottoway Co., Virginia, 600 pds currency, 133 acres in Nottoway Co. being part of the land on which William Dudley, decd, lived (the house tract) and is part of tract which descended to said Samuel Sneed and Jane, his wife, and Mary Jeter, and Elizabeth Lee, wife of Andrew Lee [Lea?], by the death of the aforesaid William Dudley, according to act of Virginia Assembly directing the course of descents. Explanation of relationships: Rachel Dudley of Nottoway Co., VA is believed to have been the widow of the deceased William Dudley.  William Dudley is believed to have been the brother of the three females mentioned in the deeds, apparently recorded in two places--North Carolina in 1801 and in Virginia in 1802. Jane (Dudley) Sneed had been present at the marriage of Elizabeth, her probable sister, to Andrew Lea. Kathleen Booth Williams, MARRIAGES OF AMELIA CO., VA 1735-1815 (1961) indicates Jane Sneed was a witness to a Lea-Dudley marriage in 1769: "23 November 1769. LEA, Andrew and Elizabeth Dudley, dau. of Thomas Dudley, who consents. Wit. to consent, William Dudley and Jane Sneed. Sur. Thomas Dudley, Jr. p. L-1." Andrew Lea is later found in Caswell Co. NC deed books, which county was formed 1777, and then he is found still later in Person Co. NC records. (Although Elizabeth is said to have been dau. of Thomas Dudley, this contradicts other records. Clarification is needed.) Samuel Sneed of Granville Co.. NC, later of Person Co., NC had married Jane Dudley, place and date unknown, but probably in Virginia.  Mary Jeter [Mrs. Samuel Jeter] was the former Mary Dudley.  Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Lea, was their sister. We believe the Dudleys may have come from Caroline Co., but other than this document, we have not confirmed this:      Caroline County, VA Order Book 1750-1752 [p. 248?]:      "Jane and Mary Dudley orphans of Jno. Dudley made choice of Wm. Dudley to be their guardian, who with Edmd. Pendleton his security acknowledged their bond."      p. 249 [8 March 1750/1]      "The last will and testament of John Dudley was presented in Court by Wm. and John Dudley the executors therein named and proved by Jane Tompkins one of the witnesses who declared she saw Jno. Wily, Mary Watkins and John Dudley Jr. witness the will.  Certificate is granted for obtaining a probate, who with Edmd. Pendleton their security acknowledged bond.      "It is ordered that John Wily, John Sutton, Henry Burk and Richd. George appraise the estate of John Dudley.      "William Dudley is appointed guardian to Ann Dudley orphan of John Dudley."      (John Frederick Dorman, CAROLINE COUNTY, VIRGINIA ORDER BOOK, 1746-1754, PART THREE, 1750-1752 [Washington DC, 1970], p. 17) Submitted by  E.W.Wallace