For several years I have been searching for the family of William Southern, Sr. of Mecklenburg and Wythe County Virginia. This William Southern, Sr. first appears in the Personal Property Tax Lists of Mecklenburg County, Virginia in 1782. He continues to be listed in the Tax list thru 1800 where he is listed on July 19th with sons John, William, Jr., Buckner and Robert. William is the oldest Southern male listed in Mecklenburg Records. In Lunenburg County, Virginia, the parent county of Mecklenburg, there is a John Southern listed in the 1749 Tithes List. I have found no other listing for this man. In the list of the same county in 1851 there is a Robert Southern listed but again no other record of this man. I would appreciate any information on these Southern men. Thr following is information that I have on William, Sr. of Mecklenburg County. I believe the record of William Southern, Sr. of Mecklenburg County, VA has been confused with the record of William Southern II (Jr.) of Stokes County, North Carolina. This was caused by the information written in Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia where the author states that Jesse Southern is the son of William Southern of Stokes County, NC. She gives no source of information for this information. I believe that Jesse, John, and Robert Southern are the sons of William Southern, Sr. and his wife Furner (Yes, FURNER is the correct name of his wife.) This is why I believe the author was wrong in her claim that Jesse was the son of the William Southern, II. of Stokes County, NC. The William Southern family of Mecklenburg County is listed year by year from 1783 until the year 1800 in the Mecklenburg Tithe (Poll) Tax lists. These Tax list are unusual in that they lists the male children by name when they reach 16 years of age when they become taxable as a tithe. Example: in 1787 William Southern, Sr. pays two tithe Polls: one for himself and one "John, his son, about. 16 and under 21". In 1791 William pays two Polls, one for self and one for "Robert Southern his son age 16". In 1792 William pays two Polls, one for self one for "his son William age 16. In 1795 William pays three Polls, one for self and one for "his son William Southern and one for his son Buckner Southern." Robert Southern is listed separately in this list. In 1797 William, Sr. is listed with two Polls one for self and one for "Jesse Southern, his son, age 16. William, Sr. with his sons continue to be listed in the Mecklenburg County Tax Lists until 1800. From that point he is never listed in the county Poll taxes. However John and William Jr. are listed in the 1801 and 1802 lists. John disappears from this list in 1803 but William Jr. continues to be listed until 1814. As a point of interest concerning Robert Southern of Claiborne County, who I believe is the son of William, Sr. In the Tax lists of 1783 thru 1800 there is a William Neal listed in the Tax lists with William Southern. In 1783 they were on the same tax lists and taxed on the same day. They evidently lived in close proximity. It is well known Robert Southern of Claiborne County, TN married Nancy Neal daughter of Peter Neal. There are many other Neal families listed in these lists, among them are William, Thomas, Reves, Robert, Francis. In the 1810 Census of Wythe County, Virginia three Southern men are listed: 1. Jesse Southern, 26 to 45 with four females under ten years of age and a female 26 to 45 years. Jesse was listed in Mecklenburg County Poll Tax list as being 16 years of age in 1797 which would make him 29 years old in 1810 well within this Census category. 2. William Southern, age over 45 years; two sons under ten, one 16 to 26 (Evidently James who was born 1786 and lived in Hancock County, TN ca 1851) Females, three 16 to 26, one 26 to 45 and evidently William's wife, Furner age over 45. 3. John Southern, is listed as age over 45 with two males under 10, females, one 10 to 16; one 16 to 26; and one 26 to 45. In the Tax list of 1787 John is listed as William�s son age 16 and under 21. Which in 1810 would make him 33 to 39 years of age. In 1830 Lee County Jesse Southern is listed as 50 to 60 years, one male 5 to 10, and one 15 to 20. Females are one 10 to 15 and one 50 to 60. In the Poll Tax list of 1797 Jesse is listed as being 16 years of age this would put his birth year as 1781 which would make him 49 years old in 1830. This, to me is confirmation that we are talking about Jesse, son of William and Furner of Mecklenburg. Also in 1830 census of Lee, William Southern, age 70 to 80, born 1750 to 1760, undoubtedly William Southern, Senior. William was listed in the 1827 Court minutes as being excused from paying County Levy. Also listed with him one male 10 to 15 and one female 80 to 90. The Lee County Personal (poll) taxes shed additional light on the family. From 1795 to 1811 there are no Southern men listed in Lee County. In 1812 Jesse Southern is listed with one poll, and the same in 1813. The 1814 Tax List is for Land only and the 1815 thru 1826 are missing. In 1827 William, Jesse and James are all listed with one poll each. This holds true thro 1831 but another William being listed, evidently the younger William appearing on the 1830 Census. In 1832 a young Robert Southern appears on the Tax list along with Ahart Southern, perhaps sons of Jesse. In 1833 there is a listing of William Southern, Sr. and William Junior. William Sr. was not charged a Tax. Could this be a repeat of the 1827 Court action where he was excused from paying taxes? William Sr. never appears on another Tax list after this year. William, Jr., the younger, is on the 1830 census. When William Southern, Sr., of Mecklenburg County, Virginia sold his land in Mecklenburg County (Deed Books 7:372; 8:41; 8:42; and 8:32) his wife releases her Dower Rights and in all four deeds her name is clearly written "FURNER SOUTHERN, wife of William". Hers is a very unusual given name and it is very understandable that some researchers have picked up the name of the mother of Jesse Southern as a surname TURNER. In the Death Register of Lee Co., in all cases, only the given name of the mother is used, never her maiden name. As further evidence that the name of Jesse's mother is Furner is the publication by Mark Treadway, of 1997, Lee County, Virginia Death Records 1793-1844 by Mark Treadway on page 57 of that publication he lists the entry for Jesse Southern as follows: "Jesse Southern, parents Wm & Furner Southern, date of death 2 Aug. 1860, died Lee County, born in Rockingham, Virginia died of old age 84 years 2 mos, informant Marcella Burton"(daughter of Jesse). The microfilm of the Lee County death records are difficult to read and as a result some researchers have picked up the name of Jesse�s mother as �Turner�. But as stated before there is never a case in these records where the maiden name of the mother is used. The given name is always used. The Library of Virginia�s film of Vital Records are in better condition than the death records of Lee County film and by enhancing and enlarging the print Jesse�s mothers name is clearly Furner. At the same time that William Southern of Lee County, Virginia is appearing on the 1830 Census of Lee County, William Southern II is listed in the 1830 Stokes County Census. In 1833 when William Southern of Lee County, Virginia is listed on the County Tax Lists, William Southern II of Stokes/Surry counties is filing his Revolution War Pension Application. William Southern II (Jr.) settles the question as to the possibility that he ever lived in Lee/Wythe County by his statement on Page 3 of this Pension Application. He makes the following statements: 1st that he was born in Buckingham County in Virginia in the year 1758 or 59. 2nd" that he lived in Surry County North Carolina when he entered each Tour of Duty, the first as a volunteer & the two last as a drafted private each time; that he knew & served with all the officers named in the foregoing, that he now resides in the same neighborhood (which from the division of Surry is now Stokes County) where he has resided ever since the Revolutionary War". By this statement he takes away any possibility that he ever lived in Wythe or Lee County, Virginia and could therefore not be the William Southern who was the father of Jesse, of Lee or Robert Southern, of Claiborne County, Tennessee. In an effort to confirm this opinion I asked Michael Southern of North Carolina, host of �The Southern Family in North Carolina� web site if he had any record of William Southern II being in either Wythe or Lee Counties and he had none. �Early Settlers� is a very valuable source of information concerning Lee County but researchers are obligated to verify all information no matter the source. I would appreciate any information on these families and certainly any information that will correct the information I have given here. Jack Barron