Trudy, I met two brothers who live in St. John, Hertford County and Jackson, Northampton County, who do research there, and have for many years now. I don't think they are certified, but they really know a lot about the process. We talked for a long time, two separate times. Their current research project is to reconstruct the original land grants in NC, which is an amazingly complex, tedious project. The State Archives knew about them and their project. I went to the State Archives between my two visits to them. Here is their information, if you'd like to contact them, or if anyone else would. I don't get anything out of it, and I don't even know what they charge. I also haven't seen their actual work, but I'm sure they would be willing to provide references, etc. Dennis Babb (252)587-1089 or (252)587-1090 dennisbabb@coastalnet.com Tony Babb (252)332-7564 tonybabb@yahoo.com I met these brothers one afternoon when I was trying to find the Lassiter homeplace and family cemetery (I think I may know where to look next time, but I haven't found them for sure yet). One of them lives right next to the St. Johns Baptist Church, and I was hoping a cemetery would be associated with the church, but no such luck... However, I really enjoyed talking with them and their family. It was nice to meet some people as crazy about history and genealogy as I am while out there researching. <smile> I think it's Tony's wife that's related to me, it turns out (somehow, haven't figured out exactly how yet, of course). Seems like if a family was there for any length of time, they got to be related to just about everybody else, and most of my father's family was there a very long time. <grin> I hope this helps lots of people! -Susan At 13:17 07/31/01 EDT, you wrote: >Hi: I am hoping someone on the mailing list will be willing to do some >family research for me. I am willing to pay a reasonable wage. The research >would be from about 1840 through 1915. If anyone is interested, please >contact me at my e-mail address: TRS0304@aol.com. Thanks, Trudy Swain