Most of you researchers know that Hanover Co. is a "burned county" so you have to scramble to find references to your Hanover ancestors so that you can place them in a time and a place (most important!). A recent issue of Magazine of Virginia Genealogy (Vol. 39, No. 2, May 2001) published by the Virginia Genealogical Society, Richmond, VA has a too-brief article entitled Wills from Louisa County Chancery Suits by Janice L. Abercrombie. The first sentence of the introduction: Typically when there is a question about inheritance, the suit is heard in chancery court [my comment: in Virginia and some other states]. There is a case 1833 of Morris Cosby vs. Martin Bakers exors. The case mentions a spring lot in the City of Richmond. These are some of the names which appear in the case: Martin Baker, Jr. (son), William Carter (grandson), George W. Baker (grandson), lists a number of slaves without surnames, his living children. Those with the surname Baker (sons): Cleavers, Martin, Samuel, William. Daughters: Mary Brittain, Lucy Ellett and Catherine Moody. There is mention of a deceased daughter, Elizabeth Overton and mention of her children (not named). The case was presented at the Hanover Co. courthouse 22 Aug 1821. Another case presented in this article is that of Charles Thompson vs. John Winston. It concerns the estate of John Winston of Hanover Co. and presents his will. The will names his sons: Horatio Gates, William Overton. His daughters: Eliza Farrell, Maria Overton. His executors: Richard Morris, Charles Thompson, John Overton, Thos. Price and my brother William Winson. The will was written 19 May 1797 and witnessed by David Devenport, Jno. Brown, Wm. Phillips. It was proved at Hanover quarterly session 21 Feb 1798. There is another very interesting chancery suit against the estate of Samuel Overton. His will dated 18 Mar 1812. It is quite interesting in that he names two illegitimate children. The will is rather complex. Incidentally, I have been able to purchase some recent back volumes (with indexes) from the Virginia Genealogical Society. If you are a member, you get a 20 % discount on their publications, among them the last four volumes of Cavaliers and Pioneers, published in the 1990s. Happy hunting! E.W.Wallace