I picked up the below info from another list. Has anyone found this to be reliable? It doesn't seem to work on the deeds I have for 1804-1825 but then my WADEs don't seem to be predictable anyway. The following is from a Minnesota Genealogical Newsletter. "In the lower left corner of most old deeds you will find two to four witnesses. The first one is always from the husband's side, the next two from the wife's side. That is to protect her one-half dower rights under the law. Nothing you will ever use will give greater clues to maiden names". Thanks, Eldon mailto:ewade@cfl.rr.com Researching: WADE, HAMES