I spent quite a lot of time a couple of years ago looking up the VA land grants with these names. Trying to see if Dobson was possibly the father of my Richard Dotson (born 1752 in Shenandoah County; died 1847 in Doddridge Co. Served several terms in the Rev. War as an Indian Spy in West Pa, and (West) Virgina. "Returned" to Hampshire Co for a few years after the Rev. War.) Haven't been able to prove a link to William Dobson. I couldn't find a deed or will abstract where William mentioned a son Richard. I thought it would be helpful if there would be a way to lay out the lands described in the patents onto maps to see where these 3 names were neighbors. Cresap we know was a land speculator. He is on MANY deeds. I don't know how to make plat maps using land descriptions, so just gave up on the project. Sandra Paser sandijay@mindspring.com