Hello Hdanw and list, I had recently posted some information on two Paynes who had settled in the 1750's in what was then Orange County, NC, at the time my John Satterfield moved there. This Robert and John Payne established an ordinary with my John Satterfield in 1775 after Caswell was set off from Orange County. The community of Paynes Tavern still exists today, which is on the southeastern side of Person County, which was a part of Caswell in those days. Family lore promoted the idea that these men were related to Dolly Payne Madison, but I have not seen a document to verify that. The Satterfields and the Paynes often witnessed documents for each other, and I have always wondered if their relationship was just business. BTW, Richard Simpson, Jr. brother to Mary Ann Simpson Harris, married first Henrietta Williams, daughter of Col. John Williams, Revolutionary War "Minute Man". Perhaps this will provide a clue as to the Williams lineage. My ancestor, William Swift, purchased the Tyra and Mary Simpson Swift plantation, from his son-in-law, Tyra Harris, Jr. when his parents died. Best regards, John Fox Winston Salem, NC In a message dated 4/30/01 2:38:13 PM, Hdanw@aol.com writes: << Are any of you super-sleuths able to help me untangle the ancestors of these persons whose names appear below in bold? Marmaduke Williams is found later in Caswell Co., NC (not to be confused with Duke Williams, a probable cousin). Also, is this information correct? The brief bio of Marmaduke Williams gives his great-grandparents but does not reveal his parentage. Does anyone know who is the father of Marmaduke Williams? And who are the parents of Duke Williams of Caswell Co.? AGNESS HARRIS NEE PAYNE. According to a long-ago query, 1896, in VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY, v. 3, concerning the Williams family, Hon. Marmaduke Williams (see Wheeler's HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA, PART II, p. 78), "a great-grandson of the emigrant above [John Williams I and wife Mary]" married Mrs. Agnes Harris nee Payne, the widow of Robert Harris (son of Tyra Harris and Mary Ann Simpson ). She was a cousin of Mrs. Dolly Payne Madison. They had, among other children, one named Madison Williams and one named Dolly Payne Williams (the writer's grandmother). Can any one give exact relationship to Mrs. Madison, names of Agnes (Payne) Williams' parents, and sources for a full account of the Payne family?" /s/ Descendant." Supposition is that this query was submitted by Thomas McAdory Owen, of Alabama State Archives, who was conducting much research of the Williams family during this time period. Later research of Family Archive CD-ROM Genealogies of Virginia Families, Vol. 4, He-S, "The Payne Family of Goochland" gives this information about Agnes: Agnes Payne (daughter of Robert) m. 1st in 1795 to Robert Harris (marriage bond Pittsylvania Co. Feburary 2, 1795) and secondly Dec 25, 1798 Marmaduke Williams of North Carolina. The undersigned has a fair amount of information about Tyree/Tyra Harris of Caswell Co., NC (formerly of Orange Co., NC and of Louisa Co., VA), son of Major Robert Harris of colonial Louisa Co., VA and about the Caswell Co. parents of his second wife, Mary Ann Simpson, which I will share. The first wife of Tyree Harris was allegedly a Chapman. Has anyone information on Ms. ... Chapman Harris? Hoping for some positive answers from you super-sleuths! E.W.Wallace descendant of several Caswell Co. NC families particularly Henry Williams and wife Elizabeth ...