Rena, my ancestors were just like those you cited. The references were made about their "people". They were family---they carried the family names and most of them stayed around the homeplace even after gaining their freedom. Those of us with roots in the South must record this part of our heritage too. Diana Kinzer Heath ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ USGenWeb County Coordinator for: Roanoke Co., Roanoke City & Salem City, VA at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~varoanok/index.html Wood Co., WV at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvwood/indexa.htm Mason Co., WV at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvmason/ Rootsweb Mail List Owner/Admin for: VAROANOK-L@Rootsweb.com WVWOOD-L@Rootsweb.com KINZER-L@Rootsweb.com GRALEY-L@Rootsweb.com MILLER-L@Rootsweb.com SCHMIDT-L@Rootsweb.com BERNHARD-L@Rootsweb.com KARP-L@Rootsweb.com GenConnect Surname Boards Admin. for: KINZER, CORNS & MILLER. MY HOME PAGE: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/e/a/Diana-K-Heath/ ***Proud Rootsweb Sponsor*** -----Original Message----- From: RENA WORTHEN <doreatr@rbnet.com> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, January 26, 1999 11:09 AM Subject: Wills >Eddie >Many of the wills at my site have mentioned their slaves in the will. as a >matter of Fact the Hatcher family gave the slaves use of their last name . >There are many Hatcher of color that decend from the Hatcher family owners. >i find this intriging. almost like they are family. I feel sure that is the >case in many other families. especially those who treated their "slaves" >well. The wills i speak of can be viewed at this site. >http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/3798/index.html > >They make for some intresting reading. >Rena > ----------snip------- > > > >==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== >#4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are >PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop >