Hi Sheila, Your query provides that William Waddle of Iredell Co. or Mecklenburg Co., NC married Jane Cathey, and you want to determine the parentage of William Waddle within the time frame of 1777-1820. Broaden the scope of your search, so as not to focus on William and Jane alone. Try to find as many connections and links with the extended family, close friends and neighbors. Never an easy task, as this requires you to establish their county of residence. In this respect, geography is the key to genealogy, and should be an primary consideration. Another important factor is their migration and settlement patterns. Usually a family did not accomplish their migration alone, but would be accompanied by brothers, sisters, parents, neighbors, etc. Sometimes family members followed later to the same location The Waddles' settlement location after NC would be helpful. Were there extended family members with them where they resettled? Can there movements be traced in the census records? By land records? Census Records: A William Waddle is found in the 1790 US Census of Mecklenburg Co. NC in the North West Section, south of the Rowan Co. NC line. His household was enumerated with himself as head of household, 3 male childlren under 16, 3 female children and 1 female head of house, and 1 slave. Will Records: William H. Waddle - Appears to have died unmarried in Mecklenburg Co. His will, probated Apr 1847, listed two brothers, David F. Waddell and Alexander Waddell;two nephews, Thomas B. and John D. Cowan; and a friend, Thomas P.G. Farris. The sole exr. was S.H. Elliott. Archibald Waddell - Archibald Waddell also appears to have died unmarried in Mecklenburg Co. His will was probated Oct 1864, naming a nephew, George Cathey (whose wife was Margaret), giving him 3 tracts of land, adjacent to Henry Cathey and Mary Grier; and 3 acres adj. the home tract and (next to) A.F. Sadler; he left 24 acres to nephew Wm. Cathey adj. to Margaret Grier and T.J. Walker. The exrs. were George and Margaret Cathey. Smith Waddle - a nephew of Mary Smith, who names him in her will probated Aug 1817, providing that he receive all her "western land in the Tennessee Valley if ever received." Mary Smith names other family members as follows: a sister Jane Waddle and her dau. Esther; a sister Elizabeth Mason; a sister Nelly Barkley; nephew John Little; Henry and Andy Cathey, sons of Alexr. Cathey, Jr.; niece Nanny Cathey and her brother, Archibald Pinkney Cathey; Wm. C. Cathey; nephew John Cathey; niece Easter Cathey. Exrs. were friends John Little and Alexander Cathey, Jr. Tax Records: The tax assessment list for the year 1807 shows James Waddle being taxed for 147acres, 1 WP (white person-himself), and 1 BP (black person-slave); along with William Waddell taxed for 2 BP, but not as a property owner; and George Waddell for 120 acres and 1 WP. The 1799 tax list shows James Waddell being taxed only as a WP. Land Records: 1767, Andrew McMillen sf (of) Mecklenburg Co., NC. deeded 300 acres to Joseph Waddell on the W (est) side (of) Cataba (Catawba)...(adjacent to) Colonel Osburns. [This refers back to my post last date regarding the McMullens/McMillens] NOTE: the land immediately west of Catawba River starting in 1769 became Tryon Co., NC, until 1779, when it became Lincoln Co., NC. (now you have two more counties to consider). NOTE: A William and Jane Waddell are found in old Tryon Co., NC by a deed of sale which was proved in court 1 Nov 1777, "from William & Jane Waddell. (Court Minutes 1769-1779). The actual deed states William Waddel and wf. Jane of "Rowan Co., NC" to James Miller of Tryon. This land was on N. side Broad River on McDowells Creek. William and Jane Waddell apparently signed their names William Waddel and Jane Wadle. There was an unreadable name as a witness who signed with a german signature. [How did Wm. and Jane Waddel obtain this land? Is there a link between William and Joseph Waddel?] Now you have William and Jane Waddel as residents of Rowan Co., NC, which was created from Anson Co., NC. The early Anson Co. NC records show one Waddle, who was referred to as "Capt Waddle" in a land deed as being adjacent to Peter Cenestre on "fork of Wildcat." This must be Capt. Hugh Waddell, of Belmont, Blanden Co., NC, who was sent to Salisbury (Rowan Co.) to hold the Catawba and Cherokee Indians in check in 1754. In 1755 he obtained a lot #13 in the east square adjoining John Dunn and established headquarters in Salisbury. NOTE: The Rowan County land adjacent the Northern line of Mecklenburg Co., NC became a part of Iredell Co., NC. The close proximity of William Waddel in the 1790 census to Rowan, later Iredell, Co. NC, and with William and Jane Waddel found as residence of Rowan Co. NC via the land deeds, Rowan and Iredell Co. records need to be researched. Best regards, Lee Ramsey