Hi Carl and all. The source is the well known writer and genealogist, Mr. Alan Watson, "Edgecombe County (NC)...a Brief History" (NC Dept. of Cultural Resources, Div. of Archives and History, 1979); pp. 15,16. It is well done and was my source for those and numerous other facts concerning 1690-1775 NC/ VA. If available, I surely would advise that all with interest in the Tidewater of NC and VA gain a copy. I would suggest that you are surely correct that avenues to transport tobacco and ships stores (tar, pine, etc.) to wharfs, warehouses and markets and narrow cart trails to leading waterways were well known, however the search for brides/lovers was, more often than not, along bridle trails on foot or on a plow horse or mule. I think we are all correct as far as we went, and I have enjoyed these exchanges. I might add that Watson estinmates that there were but a coupole dozen bridges in 1750. Paul