Notes graciously contributed from Raymond P. Fouts to our area researchers: I seem to recall someone on your list mentioning the surname Mills in Gates, and other counties, and wondering whence it came. In Gates, it was from one Henry Mills who owned land there prior to 1694 and had later patents. At that time, it was still Nansemond County and the patents are online now. I have collected about 300 of them for Nansemond so far and they are amazingly helpful. If it would help someone, please do tell people about Henry Mills. I know it isn't accepted genealogical procedure to look back too far before making a connection, by any means, but people in the adjoining counties would benefit from looking for their surnames in those VA Patents. It will help if they will keep in mind that Nansemond extended all the way down to Gatesville, in Gates County, until 1728, when Byrd drew the "dividing line." Many of the patents cover the other counties at that level (latitude?) on the map. Both VA and NC made patents and grants in the same area, not being able to agree where their borders really were. The VA Patents, at http://eagle.vsla.edu/lonn/virtua-basic.html have a name, keyword or subject search and you can search on surnames, county names and dates, too. If I remember correctly, just typing in "Nansemond" on the keyword search will bring up something over 1,000 hits. They are fascinating to read and the digital images can be printed out.