I am always amazed when the State gets something right! Today I was visiting the NC Dept. of Archives web site looking for something I had seen previously. Well, I did not find what I was looking for but did discover that the state has put images of many of the original wills filed in the state on-line as well as images from the documents of many of the state's governors. They also have cataloged their collections and you can browse and search through the catalog. The main search page is below (warning, it is a two line or better URL). http://www.ncarchives.dcr.state.nc.us/logicrouter/servlet/LogicRouter?OUTPUTXS L=childbrowse.xsl&hier=h1&tree=c&api_1=PUB_DISP_COLL&hier=builder&tree=c&api_2 =GET_SEARCH_PARM&hier=h1&tree=o&api_3=PUB_DISP_COLL&hier=builder&tree=o&api_4= GET_SEARCH_PARM An easier way to get there is to go the the Dept. of Archives main page, and on the left bottom of the screen, click on the "MARS! Online Catalog..." hyperlink. http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/archives/arch/default.htm Once you get into MARS, the subject headings all have a description with a + sign to the left of the heading. The old wills are listed as: Records of Probate: Wills [View Documents] . On any of the headings, click on the + to show what is below the heading. To see the catolog entry for the individual listing, click on DESCRIPTION. For the Wills, the hierarchy is as follows: Records of Probate: Wills [View Documents] Black-Bright ------Black, Isaac, New Hanover County View Description [ Object ] ------Black, Michael, Craven County View Description [ Object ] ------Blackall, Abraham, Chowan County View Description [ Object ] ------Blackall, Sarah, Chowan County View Description [ Object ] ------Blackledge, Richard, Craven County View Description [ Object ] etc. To see the individual's will, click on VIEW DESCRIPTION which will bring up a page like this: Bright, Simon, Dobbs County Title: Bright, Simon, Dobbs County Years: 1777 MARS Id: 12.96.1.275 (Folder) Index Terms: Geographic Names: Dobbs County Personal Names: Bright, Simon Other Copies: S.108.196 (MFR) On the right you will see an Icon to click to view the image. If you don't see it, click the NEXT to go to the next page (that will be more prevalent in the Govenor's papers). On the viewer, to go from page to page, to me it is quicker to use the drop down box on the menu bar but you can double-click on the next page on the left hand frame. Hint: when viewing at 100% the entire document does not fit into the viewing area. Enlarge that viewing area by dragging the left panel smaller. Gotta go, Patsy Cline's, "I Got Your Picture, She's Got You" just came on i'net radio. <grin> Best of wishes, Billy

Bob, It was good to see you and Sue at the Historical Society Meeting. The website for the historical resource they were talking about is: http://www.mounet.com/~echo/ppp.htm It should help you sort out the Indian/Settler questions you were raising. Also, don't miss the free timeline at the bottom of the page. Dan