Hi Folks, Carolyn... No I haven't checked on location of Ft. Defiance but plan to do so shortly. In my notes I have: John Spence m.: 9 Feb. 1786 Augusta Co. to Isabel McCormick ...not married in Rockbridge, (data from Chalkley, Vol. 2 - pg.360) (but I know that Chalkey's work is not 100% correct...proof with William Spence m. Polly Anderson...Chalkley states 1793...actual marriage record is 1792.) To add general comments regarding "Colonial Soldiers" ...during this time period prior to the Rev. War there were many young men on their own...hungry & without shelter who joined local a local Militia simply as a means to survive...a place (fort) to eat & sleep....we also find this fact even during the Rev. War period...as I've mentioned before with Burwell Spence in his military activities...it was obviously this was how he was surviving the times...also why he moved around a lot. Our mystery man...Thomas Spence...may have floated many places serving time in different militia units , yes fighting Indians too, and could actually pop up anywhere...like NC. (Carolyn...keep me updated to Barbara's research, please.) ----------------------------- GENERAL PLEA FOR COURT DOCUMENTS Folks, many of you have read my "short stories" posted on this site (by Carolyn-thanks) regarding Rev. War Vet James Spence of Augusta Co., VA. ...and my Widow Martha (Spence) Cornwell plight for a CSA pension. Beside based upon general background research such work is taken from actual Court Documents and Gov't Records. Over the years I have written (many published) several bloodline heritage stories on many different family lines. (example: Sparks; Ogle; Ramey; Wheeler; Jayne; Carver; Roberts; Bailey; Wheeler; just to name a few...others pending: Hylton; Brown; Edwards.) I wish to also draft a "heritage story" on the SPENCE line. To speed me along I wish to request that anyone with actual Court Documents & Gov't Records ....Deed Records/Marriage records/ Court Order Entries/ Military Records/ etc. ... of the following family units to please share them with me. Seek data on: * JAMES & JANE (BLUFORD) SPENCE of Augusta Co., VA. & any/all children. * WILLIAM & MARY/POLLY (ANDERSON) SPENCE..& any / all children. * WILLIAM & JANE (TUTTLE) SPENCE & any / all children. Most of you should be aware of who these early Spence Ancestors are. >From the actual Court/Gov't documents one may find a wealth of useful info...but I seek the actual Documents. Anyone with "any" document are urged to please share them with me...they can be snail-mailed to the address listed below. Please help me speed up the process needed to draft a Heritage Story on this SPENCE line. Later.... Jim James F. Carver 610 Gay Street, Box 214 Portsmouth, Ohio 45662-0214 e-mail: heritage@zoomnet.net