I have something I'd like to share with those who are researching the Orange Co NC PILES families (Ralph FRAVEL and other good folks). I sent to the National Archives for the bounty-land application of a William PILES, who served during the War of 1812. I was thinking he might tie in somehow with John PILES (the one from Lincoln Co NC who died in Tishomingo Co MS in 1844). Instead, I found this: This William PILES was born c1796 in Orange Co NC (per his honorable discharge of 1819). In 1814 at age 18, he enlisted for a five-year term in the 7th Infantry of the Regular US Army. The 7th Infantry is listed as a KY regiment, and some notes on the discharge papers refer to Scottville (Allen County) KY. Allen County is just across the state line from Smith and Sumner Counties in TN, where Isaac PILES (originally from Orange County NC) was living as early as 1820 (Smith Co TN census). Census records imply that Isaac PILES had a large family. However, to my knowledge, few of his children have been identified, presumably due to the dearth of early TN records. I strongly suspect this William PILES was a son of Isaac, and was one of the two 16 to 26 year old males living in Isaac's 1820 household. (William PILES would have been 24 at the time, and only recently discharged from the army.) I also note that, back in 1800 in Orange County, Isaac already had two males in his household, age under five years, one of whom could have been William. I don't know a lot about this William PILES. I do know that in 1825, he was granted 160 acres in St. Francis Co AR, on the eastern edge of the state, based upon his service during the War of 1812. My suspicion is that he is then the William PILES (age 30 to 40) living a little ways down the Mississippi River in Chicot Co AR in 1830 (with wife(?) 20 to 30, a male under 5, and two females 5 to 10). This family composition would be compatible with his having gotten married shortly after his 1819 discharge. I have no leads as to his whereabouts, or those of his family, after 1830. Does anyone have an unplaced William PILES, age 40 to 50, in the central US for the 1840 census? Best wishes to the PILES/PYLES/PYLE Lists. I'm still digging, but haven't had much time to post. Jim Smee Pittsburgh PA