Thanks to all that have replied to my query. I truly appreciate it. In hopes of making things more clear this is what I have on the two surnames Alexander used. I know the Alexander Gordon in Mo. was my 2nd Great grandfather. A letter written in the early 1900's by a descendant said Alexander Gordon was born in Halifax, Virginia in 1805 [Census records show the same age] and married a Mary Lax in Halifax. The letter says Mary Lax was born in Halifax in 1803 [the 3 may have been an 8] and died March 10, 1848. I used that information to trace him back to Halifax and found the marriage record and deeds that follow. Alex. G. Younger married Mary Lax Dec.23, 1822. Joel Lax, Robert Lax and Timothy Childress signed as witnesses. Timothy Childress also signed the bond for the marriage with Alex. Timothy was married to Mary Lax' sister. Alexander would have only been 17 years old. Would he have had to have a guardian sign with him? All the following Deeds are for Halifax Co, Virginia. [I only have the synopsis for these two] Book 36- Pg. 316 7-31-1828 Alexander Gordon Younger bought 130 A. on Difficult Creek in Halifax Co, Va. from John B. Shaw & wife Aggy for $70. Land was bounded by land owned by Wm. Canada, Timothy Childers [ Childress?] and others. Synopsis doesn't give the others names. Book 36- Pg. 269 8-2-1828 Timothy Childress became Security of Alexander G. Younger to Bacon Dolman [Coleman?] in the sum of $270 on 2 Bonds. Alexander G. Younger sold RIchard Sigon 127 A. on Difficult Creek adjoining Wm. Canad [Canada?] Another tract on Hunting Creek of 60 A. said Younger to live on place until the sum is paid. Witnesses: Yhos. Hall, Richard Sigon, John Bamer [Bomar?] [I have these Deeds, this my synopsis of whats on them] Oct. 1829 [Dates mentioned on Deed May 9, 1829 & June 21, 1829] David Orrin [?] & Elizabeth, John Lax & Susannah, Timothy Lax & Tabitha, Alex. G. Younger & Mary, Timothy Childress & Obedience sold to Robert Lax for $201. on Hunting Creek, Halifax Co, land adjoining Richard H. Sigon. Jan. 1830 [ Date mentioned on Deed Dec. 29, 1829] Alexander Gordon Younger was indebted to Thomas & Bacon Coleman for $308.92. For $1 Alexander will give Thomas Coleman one negro woman, Judy, one negro boy, Issac, one mare, five head of cattle, one wagon & gear, 3 feather beds, furniture, iron pots, 1 oven, 2 skillets, 1 pine cupboard, 1 pine chest, 1 black walnut folding table, one shot gun, 6 head of sheep, if he defaults on the load of the $308.92. He can live on the property & keep the profits while the loan is being paid. Witnesses: C. M. Adkisson, Henry E. Coleman & John Sims [?] [1830 Census for Alexander Gordon shows one female slave and one young male slave.Family lore says he released his slaves before he left VA.. I haven't found a record of him having slaves in Mo. ] March 1831 [Date also mentioned on Deed Jan. 11, 1931] Alexander G. Younger & Mary sold to Timothy Childress for $116.371/2 - 66 A. on Hunting Creek. Winesses: Wm. Clark & Jonathon L. Pleasants. March 1831 [Date also mentioned Jan. 11, 1831] Alex. G. Younger & Mary sold to Richard Hill for $128.811/4 - 1303/4 on Difficult Creek. Jan. 1835 [Date mentioned on Deed Jan. 13, 1835] Alexander G. Younger sold to Richo Heir [?] for $85 everything Mary Lax, widow of Joel Lax [Alex. mother-in-law] vested as her third of Joels estate, consisting of 80 A, where she now resides, 5 slaves, Eliza, Ben, Cricey, Alley, Moses & William, household & kitchen furniture, horses, cows, sheep, hogs & plantation utinsils to become Richo Hiers [?] on Mary Lax Sr's death. Witnesses: John S. Pleasants & Peter Barksdale Nov. 19, 1835 William Lax Sr. & Elizabeth, David Orren & Elizabeth, John Lax & Susannah, Alexander Gordon [No mention of Younger] & Mary, Timothy Childress & Obedience, Tabitha of Timothy Lax, deceased, sold to Robert Lax for $350.- 691/4 A. on Difficult Creek adjoining land of Alfred Pincham [?] Signed by all the sellers above inc. Alex. Gordon & Mary Gordon. [Obedience, Elizabeth, John & Susannah made their mark] [My note: In Jan. of 1835 Deed Alex. was still using Alexander G. Younger, in Nov. of 1835 he had dropped the name Younger in his signiture, even though he is signing with the same people. Does this mean somthing occured in that time period that made a difference?] The only Younger name I have found associated with Alexander is John G. Younger. Does the G. stand for Gordon also? I only have the synopsis of these: Book 22, Pg. 250. May 1809. John G. Younger sold William Bailey for $500.- 67 A. on Difficult Creek, being land sold the said Younger by John LeGrand. Bounded by Will Chandler [A Lax relative] John Britten & John Kerr. Book 26, Pg. 22 Feb. 28,1816 Zachariah Leymore & Susan, his wife sold to John G. Younger, all of Halifax Co, 100 A. on Hunting Creek for 7# 7 shillings. Witnesses: Frances Thompson, Abner LeGrand, Mason LeGrand. April 17,1779. John LeGrand & Elizabeth Younger marriage. Surity Alexander Gordon. [There was a Rev. Alexander Gordon in Halifax Co, Va. from 1763-1775 when he retired from Antrim Parish to Petersburg. I don't know if this is the same one.] Witness: Henry Goare. Book 42, Pg. 574 John G. Younger sold to Timothy Childress, both of Halifax Co 221/2 A. for $68.25 adjoining Lax line. Witnesses: Wm. Canada, Alexander Younger & Sabon Durham. March 24, 1823. Shelton Seamster & Elizabeth Younger, daughter of John G. Younger who consents. Surity: David Chandler [Lax relative] Witness: Timothy Childress [Alexander Gordon/Youngers brother-in-law] Md. March 26, 1823 by D. B. McGehee. Pg. 114 There is a John Gordon in the 1820 Halifax Co, Va. census a James Gordon married there in 1826 and a Robert Gordon in the 1850 census. I found a William Gordon, 1782, in Halifax . St. Francois CO, Mo. Married in 1850 as Alexander Gordon. The first deeds in Mo. I find are dated March 1, 1848. [A few days before Mary Lax Gordon is said to have died. I haven't found proof of her death date or burial record so far] All his deeds in St. Francois Co. are signed as Alexander Gordon, no mention of the Younger name. I haven't found any Youngers in that county and "family lore" doesn't even mention the name Younger.I haven't found others Gordons either. I have found some Halifax surnames near Alexander and have tried to trace these same people back to Halifax but so far no luck. Any further help would be most welcome and maybe the above information will help someone else researching a different name. M.J. Milford