As I recall reading somewhere about my own ancestors, when the immigrants settled in VA and elsewhere, if they had paid passage to America, they were granted 50 acres of land for each member in their party. A family of six would begin with 300 acres, which wasn't a bad start. And, isn't it true that veterans of war received horses and land after mustering out, according to their ranks and terms of service? (I believe I read that also. My comments are merely food for thought! Oops--there's another expression-"food for thought.") A couple with a family of boys could quickly build their farm production. I remember my mother saying that my dad's father was a poor farmer. All of his boys left VA and traveled west, leaving him with only one young son to work the farm. He couldn't afford hired help. My mother's father was what one might call a workhorse. He was a blacksmith, farmer, owner of the general store, had his own gristmill, and didn't believe in idle hands, regardless of age or sex. She remembered falling faint in the cornfield various times because the corn was so tall, the temperature so hot and humid, and no air stirring between the rows of corn. On one occasion she and two sisters were overcome by the heat. The local doctor (Suttles) instructed my grandfather that he was much too hard on the girls. He was going to kill them. They couldn't take to hard labor. Grandpa would put the toddlers in the garden planting corn when they learned to hold up two fingers. That meant they could put two kernels of corn to a hill. (Aren't our children spoiled???) May I say that since the lady asked the question, "What were homes built of between 1810-1850", the responses and new questions have held my interest. I have learned so much history about our ancestors. I realize researching our lineage is of vital concern, but look what we have learned about all those names, birth/death dates. They weren't just names. They had a life!!!! And I have the utmost admiration for them. My ancestors: ROWLETT/ESTEP/CARMACK/NEVILS/YEARY/CAMPBELL/BROOKS, all from VA/TN. Know any of them?? Pat O'Neal