To Chris: Concerning the land deed which disappeared, for several years I searched the deed books of Washington co. trying to locate a deed for land willed to Robert Herrald by his father, James Herrald in 1796.. I couln't find it! Later, while looking through some old "unfiled" loose papers, I found a record showing that the land had been sold for taxes in 1810.. It gave the name of the person who bought it.. I went to the deed books and looked under that persons' name in the index and Found The Deed for that tract of land.. Because it had been sold for taxes, the Sheriff and signed the deed.. It seems a lot of land was sold for taxes between 1800 and 1820 in many VA. counties.. Partly due to the fact that people had moved to the west and found better land or could not get back to claim the land of their fathers... In the case of Robert Herrald, he had large land claims in Ky. and was also sick at the time.. I might mention that the 170 acres due Robert was sold for $10.00 and is now worth $200, 000! Maybe this will help...... G. Lee Hearl Authentic Appalachian Storyteller Abingdon, Va..