Jean and all, Thanks for the reminder on Mathias Keen and Sally Spence, Jean ! I had forgotton about that ! What are the odds that this has some significant meaning ????? We'll need to check the other counties now for Keen families near the Spence families. Surfing for Mathias Keen's ancestry may lead us into some solid evidence. Along with Josiah Keen ( which is sometimes written Joseph) there was a Gilbert Keen, a Moses Keen, a Zenas BALDWIN and Edmond WOOD, who was in this Spence cluster in both locations. Looking at your Rand McNally in North Carolina locate Surry Co. directly below Hillsville, VA. Locate the county seat Dobson. Now North toward the VA line from Dobson and locate Low Gap, NC on the Ashe/Alleghany county line. That is the location of the group in deeds and grants . From Dobson again head south then over to the left to Elkin and Jonesville. That is the 2nd location of the cluster. This is a good distance between the two. At least 35 to 40 miles. I'll send a copy of the pioneer map to anyone interested. Let me know ! Carolyn