In the publication listed below there have been many genealogists who have been misinformed, in my opinion, by information published in "Early Settlers." Unfortunately many genealogists follow the rule "if it is printed in a book it is true." There are no sources given in the Southern information that allow verification of claims to the parent of Jesse Southern. This information is about to be republished and I have been unable to contact the Author or Publisher to ask that they reexamine their information. Suggestions as how to accomplish this will be appreciated since I feel this information should be considered, and or the author should make the sources of her information available in the publication. This is certainly not an attempt to be critical of the publication as there is much good information in it but the source of information, in genealogy, is the glue that cements families together. William Southern, Sr. of Mecklenburg Co., Va. Additional information to Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia by Hattie Byrd Muncy Bale page 491 Southern & William Southern. Hattie lists William Southern II of Stokes and Surrey Counties, North Carolina as the parent of Jesse Southern of Lee County, Virginia. Recently I found information that I think should be considered for this line. The information below in the Tax Lists and Dower rights of Deeds of Mecklenburg Indicate that Jesse is actually the son of William Southern, Sr and Furner Southern of Mecklenburg County, Virginia." Early Settlers" state that William Southern II came to Lee County where he died after 1827. In 1833 William Southern II is in Stokes County, North Carolina where he files for a Revolutionary Pension Application. In this Application he makes the statement he lives in the same neighbor hood where he has lived ever since the Revolution. This seems to deny that he ever lived in Wythe Counties (1810 Census) Virginia or Lee where he is listed in 1820 and 1830. In 1830 William Southern II is listed in Stokes County, NC at the same time William Southern, Sr., whom I believe to be the father of Jesse and husband of Furner Southern, is listed in Lee County Census. This same William Southern is listed on the Lee County Tax Lists thru 1833. William Southern, Sr. and wife Furner Southern of Mecklenburg County, Virginia are listed in the Personal (Poll) taxes as the parents of Jesse Southern; John Southern; Robert Southern; Buckner Southern; William Southern, Jr. These same named men appear later in Wythe, Lee and Claiborne Counties. All of these children are named in the Poll Tax List of Mecklenburg County as the son's of William Southern, Sr. by name. Example: in 1787 William Southern, Sr. pays two Polls, one for self and one "John, his son, abt. 16 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 1797 William, Sr is listed with two Polls one for self and one for "Jesse Southern, his son age 16" William, Sr. and his sons continue to be listed in the Mecklenburg County Tax Lists until 1800. From that point they are never listed and I assume they moved to another County (Wythe 1810). William, Jr continues to be listed until 1814 and disappears from the list. John leaves the list in 1802. 1800 is when Robert Southern, Sr. marries Nancy Neal in Granger County, TN. In the 1810 Census of Wythe County, Virginia three Southern men are listed: Jesse Southern, 26 to 45 with four females under ten years of age and a female 26 to 45 years. 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. John Southern, age over 45 with two males under 10, females, one 10 to 16; one 16 to 26; and one 26 to 45. 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. James Southern is listed as being 30 to 40 years one male, under 5, one 5 to 10, one 10 to 15. Females, one under 5, one 5 to 10, one 15 to 20, and one 20 to 30. This would not be the same James Southern as listed in the 1820 Census of Lee Co. 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. In the above census he is listed with 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, 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, son 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. is evidently the younger William on the 1830 census. When William Southern, Sr, of Mecklenburg County, Virginia sold his land in Mecklenburg County (Deed Book 7:372; 8:41; 8:42; 8:32) his wife releases her Dower Rights and in each case 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: "Jessee 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). At the same time that William Southern of Lee County, Virginia is appearing on the 1830 Census of the County, William Southern II is listed in the Stokes County Census. In 1833 when William Southern of Lee County, Virginia is listed on the County Tax Lists, a William Southern 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 has no record of is age only [traditionary?] information. 3rd, 4th, & 5th " that he lived in Surry County N.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 resided ever since the Revolutionary War". By this statement he takes away any possibility that he ever lived in 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. JB