Found this re: Mary Rakestraw: >From "Charlotte County, Rich Indeed,"compiled by Timothy S. Ailsworth, Ann P. Keller, Lura B. Nichols, Barbara R. Walker, published 1979 by Charlotte County Board of Supervisors, page 138-140: "Rough Creek Church was begun by the Church of England as the fourth and last parish church erected in Charlotte County....In 1776[my note: correct date is 1786] the Episcopal Church was dis-established by the Virginia Assembly. From having been all powerful, it became suddenly unpopular. An arguement lasted for twenty years in the Virginia Legislature concerning the disposition of the Episcopal land and buildings.....Finally in 1802, the overseers of the poor were authorized to sell these lands unless they had been privately donated before 1777. Rough Creek Church was not sold, presumably because it came under the exception.[footnote: above quoted from "Historical Sketch of Rough Creek" by Judge Robert F. Hutcheson, 1931] Sometime prior to 1793, Samuel White, the owner of the land and building, joined the Republican Methodist movement. The Rough Creek congregation was organized by this denomination in the same year. In 1821, Samuel White's sister and heir, Mary Rakestraw, conveyed the church and three and one-half acres surrounding it to Josiah Jackson, Charles Raine, James Murrell, Edw. O'Kelly Almond, and James Madison, Elders of the Methodist Republican Church.[Charlotte County DB 15, page 299]. On Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:40:18 EST Drwhobrla@aol.com writes: >I am descended from John White, who died in Charlotte County in 1782. >I descend from John's daughter Mary, who married James Grigg in 1767. >They had daughters Martha (m. James Hayes), Catherine (m. Joseph Oliver Jr.), >and Mary, who died young. Mary was not mentioned in James' will, so was likely >born after his death in 1773. Mary, widow of James Grigg, married Robert >Rakestraw in 1777. >July 3, 1777 Christopher Curtis wrote his will, which was proved in Charlotte >County Nov. 3, 1778. The will was witnessed by Robert Rakestraw, John White >and sarah White (John's youngest daughter). John White was named executor. >After his just debts were paid, Christopher Curtis left to Mary Grigg, >daughter of James Grigg dec'd, one Negro boy named Sandy with all the rest of >his estate, real and personal. Soon after John White gave power of attorney to >Robert Rakestraw to administer Christopher's estate. >Can anyone identify Christopher Curtis? I have not seen any other references >to him. He was obviously well known to these, my ancestors. >Ward H. Oliver, Baton Rouge ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]