Note that Carol has set me straight.....nice to have a lawyer and a first rate genealogist "on retainer" (free that is) for one's list >>> Lyn....couple of observations re your comments....(quoted by BPN 2/20/01) You say: "In the Deed indexes, I see that in 1797 there was a Mecklenburg Deed between grantor John Cleaton and Grantee Lewis Poythress (DB 10, p. 62) and a 1799 Dower Release between Grantor Martha Cleaton and Grantee Lewis Poythress (DB 10, p. 96.  And I note that, more likely the Thomas name heree may be related to the Thomas in # 5 and # 6 above, and may furnish further info from the same earlier tie-ins." I said: Dower release Grantor Martha Cleaton to Grantee Lewis Poythress (DB 10, p. 96) would seem to raise some questions.  If this is Lewis Poythress (1) doesn't he have to be married in the first place to need a dower release from Martha Cleaton. The "Martha" in there could be 4th child of William C. Cleaton & Jane Poole.  Wouldn't this then infer that Lewis (1) had THREE wives with Martha Cleaton in there in addition to Patsey Giles and Rebecca Taylor...which seems pretty illogical to me. And if its Lewis' son "Lewis Y." getting the dower release, did he even have a chance to marry Martha Cleaton?  Big time gap here. Carol Morrison sez: Maynard, Release of dower rights has nothing to do with whether or not the grantee (i.e., Lewis Poythress) is married or not.  As the purchaser or grantee of the property, Lewis Poythress would want a release of dower from the wife of the grantor (i.e., John Cleaton) as he/Lewis certainly doesn't want to have to deal with Martha's 1/3 life time right in the property being conveyed if she should happen to survive John Cleaton. So, the *Martha Cleaton* would be the wife of John Cleaton who conveyed the property to Lewis Poythress.  She would not be the 4th child of William C. Cleaton and Jane Poole. Carol  Thanks, Carol. Maynard Release of dower rights has nothing to do with whether or not the grantee (i.e., Lewis Poythress) is married or not.  As the purchaser or grantee of the property, Lewis Poythress would want a release of dower from the wife of the grantor (i.e., John Cleaton) as he/Lewis certainly doesn't want to have to deal with Martha's 1/3 life time right in the property being conveyed if she should happen to survive John Cleaton. So, the *Martha Cleaton* would be the wife of John Cleaton who conveyed the property to Lewis Poythress.  She would not be the 4th child of William C. Cleaton and Jane Poole. Carol