Jan, Shirley and anyone else interested, I noticed on the print out of the General Index to Real Estate Conveyances, Etc., Beaufort Co. N.C. - Grantors, that I received from Carmen and sent a copy on to you, Jan, that there was an entry for a Jacob NEVIL, Grantor on March 5, 1758 to Cornelius BELL and another in Dec. 1760 to a Moses NEVILL. What caught my eye, and it likely means nothing, was the Bell entry. In the trip diary of Thomas WELSH when he and the Nevills were on their exodus from Harford, MD. on Sept. 16, 1793, they stopped on that day and "breakfasted at Mr. Bells + Roads Paid 46". This probably means nothing at all but I thought I'd mention it just in case. It just seemed odd that they would stop for breakfast on the morning they left and pay for it. The next day they dined with Joshua GUYTON who was a relative before bunking down for the night in York PA at the Blue Ball. Another thing I noticed in the trip diary and you may want to have a look for yourselves, Jan & Shirley and see what you think (see pg. #1418). The entries here are for weight of baggage. On the inventory for J. NEVILL, along with the charge for the weight of his trunk, irons, sundries and beds is what looks like a weight charge for a Mrs. BURNS and then a charge for screws. Mrs. Burns was charged 16 shillings (I presume). On the goods weighed for Moses NEVILL (pg. 1419) is the same 16 shilling charge for "wife". So, I'm wondering, who the heck is Mrs. BURNS and who was she to John NEVILL? I also notice that on the inventory/weight for Thomas WELSH there is a 15 shilling charge which TW has not named and which I presume was likely for his wife. So who was Mrs. Burns and why wasn't Martha NEVILL on the weight list for John Nevill. Does Mrs. BURNS mean anything to anyone with regard to a Nevill family? I guess this entire posting should have borne the subject: Desperation Observations. Paddy