Would you check your database and see if you have PAYNEs in NC in 1796. I am looking for any hints at all about which county in which to do more research. This is my brick wall: William PAYNE b.abt 1796 in NC 1850 census, Sumner Co., TN Page 166, family #74 PAYNE, William 53 Lumber trade 5000 NC Margaret 41 (may be 49) R. S. 27 Mary 23 Greenwood 19 William 17 Martha 13 Priscilla 11 Here is an excerpt about this family from RED RIVER SETTLERS by Edithe Whitley: "William Payne was born in North Carolina and emigrated to Tennessee when he ws young...(he) was in the Indian Wars and also in the War of 1812... In 1821 or 1822, he married Margarette BROWN of North Carolina. They had six children... Mr. Payne was a farmer. He died at his residence in Sumner County in 1861. His wife died in 1850." I descend from the son R. S. PAYNE. I'm looking for connections in NC. Caswell County has both a Greenwood Payne and a William Payne in the 1790 census. A Greenwood Payne took oath of allegiance in 1777 in Pittsylvania Co., VA. And there is a Greenwood Payne in the census of Davidson Co. TN in 1820. Do you have Greenwood PAYNE in your database? or do you have PAYNEs from NC. Thanks so much for a response. Ida Deal