In a message dated 11/5/2007 12:07:14 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, nclincol-request@rootsweb.com writes: <<<Jonas W. Derr's Lincoln County will dated 20 November 1881 entered probate on 2 December 1881. An abstract of his will was published by Grace Turner and Miles W. Philbeck in /Lincoln County, North Carolina, Will Abstracts 1779-1910/ (copyright 1986 and still available from the authors), abstract number 321. The abstract shows "Brother A. J. Derr" and "Deceased sister Sarah Boger's three children." Recorded Lincoln County Will Book 4: 243. The original will which carries his signature is extant at the North Carolina State Archives. The same volume of abstracts of Lincoln County wills includes that of Mary A. Derr dated 16 July 1859 which entered probate in October 1862, recorded in Lincoln County Will Book 3: 45 with the original will available at the North Carolina State Archives. Mary A. Derr's will, according to the published abstract, names her sons Jonas W. Derr and Andrew J. Derr. My index to Lincoln County estates papers at the North Carolina State Archives includes "M. A. Derr, 1863." The same volume of abstracts of Lincoln County wills includes that of Moses Able Derr dated 1 September 1848 which entered probate in December 1848 and names his mother Mary A. Derr and brothers Jonas W. Derr and Andrew J. Derr and sisters Sarah R. Boger and Jane K. Lenoir. The will is recorded in Lincoln County Will Book 2: 309. The original will is available at the North Carolina State Archives. My index to Lincoln County estates papers at the North Carolina State Archives includes "Moses Derr, 1849." The same volume of abstracts of Lincoln County wills includes that of Rufus Milton Derr dated 26 February 1848 which entered probate in June 1848. It names mother Mary A. Derr, brothers Andrew J. Derr, Moses A. Derr, Jonas W. Derr, sisters Sarah R. Boger and Jane K. Lenoir. It is recorded in Lincoln County Will Book 2: 301. The original will is available at the North Carolina State Archives. My index to Lincoln County estates papers at the North Carolina State Archives includes "Rufus Derr, 1848." The same volume of abstracts of Lincoln County wills includes that of A. J. Derr dated 4 September 1902 which entered probate on 4 October 1902 and is recorded in Lincoln County Will Book 5: 214. It is not recorded on my reference to original wills available at the North Carolina State Archives. Kathy Gunter Sullivan>>> Thanks so much, Kathy. When I was in Lincolnton last June, I actually copied the wills of Mary, Rufus and Moses. Unfortunately, I did not find Jonas's or A.J.'s, but I will certainly do so next time I am in the county. It was only on that trip that I figured out that Andrew Derr, Mary's husband and the father of the others, was the owner of the original Lorentz Darr/Derr parcel (my ancestor, John, sold his share to brother Andrew). Now that I understand that, I am trying to locate as much information as is available about Andrew's descendents. (As an aside - when Terry Waldrup led me through the woods to the old Andrew Derr cemetery, I solved the puzzle that had hung me up. Andrew's stone had a 15 year mistake blatantly stated on it - stated age of 66 at death meant he was born in 1776, not 1761, as stated on the stone. This fit with Lorentz's will, which called John (born 1771) the elder son.) This is all very exciting to me. I don't know that anyone besides Lorena Eaker has done any research on these Darr/Derrs - I have not come across anyone else since I found my great grandfather's account of his 1858 migration to Arkansas and I established the connections between my Arkansas ancestors and the Lincoln County bunch. But I am very pleased that Jason will be sending me the estate file on Jonas W. and I look forward to collecting other information about these Darr/Derrs. Jack Darr San Francisco ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com