Read Jerry Hicks inquirey. I have gotten back to 1847 on my 'Brown" family surname (so far all is ok and inline), but family lore (my grandfather, latest, now deceased) states that the family surname "Brown" should be "Hicks/Hixs! An earlier ancestor (unknown who/when) was orphaned and taken in by a Brown family and assumed the Brown family name as he grew up (family name today still). Any Hicks/Hixs out there lost a family? Traced back to Noah Wilson Brown who marries in Stokes Co, NC 1847. Before that unknwn and so far haven't found anything to help find his parents. Margaret in Ca. [email protected]