Leigh, I'm sure that I have information on your Word family going back to New Kent County, VA in the early 1700s. Here is info. on the person you cited in your query: Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Word was born in 1856 (Don't have her death date, do you?). She married Willis W. Hackett, son of John and Sally E. Hackett, Sept. 17, 1873. When the 1900 census was taken for Francisco District, Buckingham County, Willis W. had married second to Nancy J. Carter in 1899, and her four children had adopted the Hackett surname. Mary E. (Word) Hackett's parents were Thomas H. and Caroline (Word) Word, who were married on Feb. 10, 1846 in Buckingham County. Oddly as it might seem, Caroline Word's father was Thomas Harrison Word and Caroline's husband was named Thomas Harrison Word. Caroline and Thomas H. Word were first cousins. I have a photograph of Caroline and possess one of her black kettle pots used for cooking in the kitchen. You mentioned the Davis family that was/is connected to the Words. I have collected all the information on that branch of Davises after their arrival in this country into the 20th century, and plan to make a trip to their homeplace in Cornwall County, England---including Penzance, Redruth and Crowan Parish. Have already done a lot of research through the international LDS records in Salt Lake City, but reached a dead end. If this trip can be accomplished in early summer (2002), I have hopes of including the results in my book that will going to the printer later in the year. Numerous people have suggested that I get in touch with Pauline P. Word of Historic Buckingham. Indeed she is one of the most knowledgeable persons on Buckingham County families and the history of the area. She also writes a column for the Farmville paper. Pauline and I have been working together on the Word family history since her marriage to Benjamin Word and that goes back a couple of decades. We constantly share information and meet to thrash out some of the unsolved problems. We have come a long way in compiling information on the Words, considering the lack of courthouse records. Pauline has also been active in the national Word reunion (sometimes held in Buckingham County). Every community wishes they had a Pauline Word. She is a walking encyclopedia and a fine representative for Buckingham County. And a wonderful research partner for the Word family. Wilmer L. Kerns -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2001 4:17 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [VABUCKIN] Death and Marriage Records 1850-1860s- Buckingham County Hi, Thanks for putting your notes on online. I am working on the Words of Buckingham also. My ancestor Willis Hackett married Mary Elisabeth Word the daughter of Thomas Word. That is as far as I have gotten. Will you let me know when you publish your book. I am intertested in it. Working on Words and Davis families there. Thanks again, Leigh