Have you tried the digitized and searchable on line, Library of Virginia on-line catalog (FULLY SEARCHABLE) database of available county records?

JBW again! On page 207 of the book I mentioned is the following entry under se at- (2.) (v.) To settle on as an inhabitant. To plant with inhabitants. A 1697 description os Virginia said, ' Everyone that takes out a patent...is...obliged to do two things. One is to seat or plant upon it within three years.' And, "Seating...is reconedthe building of a house and keeping a stock for a whole year." Seated land is settled land; a seater is one who seats."

Sound like you are on the right track to me. Perhaps a better current work would be "squatters". If you plan on doing a lot of Colonial reading, I would recommend the following reference book. Colonial American English, by Richard M. Lederer. Jr., A Verbatim Book, 1985, Essex, Connecticut, 06426. ISBN 0-930454-19-7 I paid $24.95 foe my copy. JBW

Hi Everyone, Have a question on the Burnt Counties there in Va. On Brunswick, anyone know if any of the records survived. If so which ones. >From what I understood that all of the early marriage consent and records were lost. I am trying to find proof of a marriage of James Trotter Sr. & Ann ?? they were to have been married in 1743 in Brunswick Co., Va. Any help on this would be appreciated. " Or suggestions of were to find the proof." Thanks Maggie

In a message dated 7/9/2000 9:13:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ferrall@mtaonline.net writes: > The area > may have also had too many "neighbors" to suit Thomas Norman's father!!! That is my guess also. The Norman's ended up the same day, in the last court entry, selling the 100 acres to the Matheny's (who were the neighbors). By the way, the year was 1704. Bob

In a message dated 7/9/2000 9:02:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, JONESDOGS@aol.com writes: > Could back seaters be squatters??? Not unless the Matheny's had squatters living on their land.

Bob, Could back seaters be squatters??? Laura

Maggie, This is much later in the century, but is the only Trotter listed in this book........ Maybe a descendant? From "Some Wills from the Burned Counties of VA and other wills not listed in Virginia Wills and Administrations 1632-1800" by Hopkins. pg. 2: Hannah Trotter, Brunswick; Oct. 17, 1794/Oct. 23, 1797 Nancy Willson. Elizabeth Forrister Roper. Henry Willison Latimer. Children of Henry Willison. Exors: John Willison & Jonathan Fisher. Wit: John Latimer, SR., Mourning Perry. ref. cited: Southside VA V.3 #1, p. 35 The foreword to this book mentions that wills are still being found and directs researchers to the "index to Wills not listed in VA Wills and Administrations" in the archives division of the VA State Libr. If more wills exist, then there is a good possiblility that other records also exist. I also know that some counties were "more burned" than others. You can also try church records and land records of the county you are interested in. I have had some sucess in researching "around" my ancestors....finding who some of their neighbors were and looking for those records too. On several occasions I have found an ancestor witnessing the will or other document of a neighbor. Sometimes both the husband and wife will be listed. Sharyl ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret L Edwards" <margaret14@juno.com> To: <VAPWILLI-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2000 9:45 PM Subject: [VAPWILLI-L] Burnt Counties > Hi Everyone, > Have a question on the Burnt Counties there in Va. On > Brunswick, anyone know if any of the records survived. If so which ones. > >From what I understood that all of the early marriage consent and records > were lost. I am trying to find proof of a marriage of James Trotter Sr. > & Ann ?? they were to have been married in 1743 in Brunswick Co., Va. > Any help on this would be appreciated. " Or suggestions of were to find > the proof." > > Thanks Maggie > > > ==== VAPWILLI Mailing List ==== > Visit the Prince William County, USGenWeb Home Page! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapwilli/pw.htm > Check out the Prince William Archives and add your records! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/va/princewi.htm > >

This is probably not the correct forum for this question but perhaps someone can give me an answer or point me in the right direction. I am reading a court record entry which says: (I will shorten it to enclude only the part I have a question about) ".......My Father THOMAS NORMAN abt 3 years since did give me 100 acres of land situate on South side Acquia River and next adjoyning tothe land of WM. MATHENY including for its breadth on Acquia River 50 Poles & South Westerly to the Back line of the Grand Pattent granted to VALENTINE PAYTON and acknowledged to me in the Court of Stafford County and for divers good consideration to me well known but more especially because the aforesd land is very sorry land and thronged with back Seaters as also being void of Timber...... His father testifys next and substitues the words "thronged with neighbors" instead of back seaters. Can someone tell me what a back seater is? I am assuming that his son did not care for the neighbors and was calling them lazy? I have tried searching the internet for colonial terms and looked in books but can't find this anywhere. Appreciate any guesses. Bob

Bob asks: "Can someone tell me what a back seater is?" My first impression is that "back Seaters" is really black Cedars....a tree that may not be desirable for it's wood. This is just a guess. The area may have also had too many "neighbors" to suit Thomas Norman's father!!! Sharyl ferrall@mtaonline.net

Hello all; Found this info and wonder if any of this connects to any of your Simms (or variant) and Chapman families? Would love more info on the family. Francis Semmes m. Lucretia Chapman (possibly MD) bef 1745 I know that I have seen these names frequently on these lists. Thanks so much for your time and attention. IME

Dear June Yes that certainly helps. Thank you very much. This shows me that Lucy Webster was born 1771 which certainly puts her in exactly the right time frame to be the daughter of Abigail Brawner. That means Lucy must have married about 1798 which fits well with the birth of Lucy Ann in 1808. Wonderful!! This should help tracking down the marriage. Does anyone have anything which shows a marriage between Lucy Haislip and ?? Webster about 1798?? Cheers Lynne Simpson Canberra Australia >______________________________X-Message: #2 >Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 10:06:56 EDT >From: Cpzb4@aol.com >To: VAPWILLI-L@rootsweb.com >Message-ID: <bf.4c4653d.26949b00@aol.com> >Subject: Re: [VAPWILLI-L] Re: William L Brawner and Lucy Webster (1803-1880) >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >On my 1850 Virginia Census CD I have all of the following listed for Prince William County, Va. > >Household #299 census page 118 >Lucy Webster age 79 born in Maryland >living with her was James E. Webster age 14 born in Virginia. > >Household# 370 census page 123 >William Brawner age 34 Farmer Real Estate value $6,000 born in Va. >Sarah E. Brawner age 26 >James R. Brawner age 1 >Sarah A. Brawner age 22 > >Household # 832 census page 151 >Col. Basil Brawner age 47 $8400. Va. >Malinda 47 >William J. 21 >Julia F. 16 >Sarah J. 13 >Virginia E. 11 > >Household 711 census page 143 >Jas. R. Webster age 40 Cooper born in Va. >Delia 35 >Elizabeth 14 >Susan 9 >Richard H. 6 >Cloy A. 3 >________Webster 4/12 female >all were born in Virginia > > >Household #458 census page 158 >Jane Webster age 40 born in Virginia she lived in a household by the name of Davis. The head of the household was Roy L. Davis he was a tenant with a >family. > >These were the only Webster's listed for the Prince William Co. 1850 census. > >There is a Sarah Brawner age 60 born in Maryland listed as living with a family in household # 1032 in Norfolk, Va. by the name Pennington. 1850 census census page 191. Lynne Simpson Canberra Australia

In a message dated 7/5/00 8:16:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, JCart54@aol.com writes: << Surnames: From VA, Maryland. DC. Carter, >> While I've got the attention of all those Carters checking on the reunion, does anyone have a Jesse B. Carter m. Lydia Wells b. 1811. or Martha Carter b. 1810 m. Henry Wells 1831 all in Prince William County. Bob Welles karrob9846@aol.com

Hi - I'm new to the list; interested in all Ellett families of Prince William and Lunenburg Counties. My John Ellett was born before 1756, and I am aware of families headed by James Ellett, Thomas Ellett, and a Gilbert Ellett left some records. At least one marriage to a Dabney, though most accounts of that family are difficult to reconcile.

Surnames: From VA, Maryland. DC. Carter, Kendall, Carlisle, Cole.Cross.Crown.Bennett.Bolton.Ford.Fox Butt, Newstead.Redman, Oden.Offutt.Utterback.Peddicord, Trammell.Helfin.Lane.Sealock.Rutherford, Mahorney, Daymude Grimes, Bennett, Barton, the list goes on. Date: July 16, 2000 Time: 12am - 5pm Place: Bohrer Park ****Formerly named Summit Hall Gaithersburg, MD Bohrer Park has a swimming pool And a miniature Golf on the premises However, there is an additional cost To use these facilities. We are located in the pavilion that has Picnic tables and grills for us to use. . You will need to bring a covered dish And beverages and lawn chairs. I am asking for a contribution of $10.00 per family Or $5.00per single person. Depending on the Number of families that respond with the $10.00 or $5.00 contribution, any excess funds over The amount of the rental of the park will be Applied to the purchase of paper products and Meat. Charcoal, etc. Please remember to bring pictures Of your family, ancestors/descendents. I will have a computer there to scan Pictures and other information. For more information, please contact Jan jcart54@aol.com

Dear List This man is an important member of my family. He seems to be invisible in the records about the time of his birth. Descendants of William L Brawner Generation No. 1 1. WILLIAM L BRAWNER (s/o JAMES)was born 10 October 1803 in MD, and died 04 August 1881 in PWC, VA. He married LUCY ANN WEBSTER Abt. 1830 in Dumfries, PWC, VA. She was born 1808 in VA, and died Aft. 1870 in PWC, VA. Notes for WILLIAM L BRAWNER: In 1850, William was listed as a tenant farmer in Prince William County. William was 47 in 1850 and was born in Maryland. His parents were listed as James and Lucy Brawner. In 1857 William L Brawner is mentioned in Richard Stonnell's will as owing two debts of $25 and $75, loaned in 1855. In 1860, William was 56(?) and Lucy was 53. They have their widowed daughter Lucy A Clark living with them together with Emma and Lucy who were the daughters of Lucy Ann and William Clark. In 1870, William wais 64 and Lucy was 62.Their grand-daughter Lucy Clark was living with them. In 1880, Lucy Clark (22) was still living with William and Lucy. By this time Lucy Ann (her mother)had died. The 1880 census of Prince William County listed William L. Brawner (76) as Superintendent of the Poor at the County Poor House in the Coles District. He reported that and his parents were born in Maryland. His wife Lucy (72) was born in Virginia, as were her parents. Prince William county death records list the death of William Brawner on 4 August 1881 at the age of 79 as due to old age. His parents are listed as John [sic] and Lucy Brawner [p. 69]. Notes for LUCY ANN WEBSTER: The 1880 census of Prince William County Lucy (72)is listed as born in Virginia, as were her parents. Lucy A Webster was listed in the Prince William Country Death Index as being born on 28 February 1808 and died on 8 January 1857. It is believed she may have been the daughter of Lucy Haislip and ?? Webster, and grand-daughter of Abigail Brawner and James Haislip. Children of WILLIAM BRAWNER and LUCY WEBSTER are: 2. i. SARAH ELIZABETH BRAWNER, b. 1829, PWC, VA; d. 13 July 1872, PWC, VA m. Richard A Annis 3. ii. LUCY ANN BRAWNER, b. 1832, PWC, VA; d. 28 March 1880, PWC, VA m. (1) William S Clark (2) John Thomas Brawner iii. MARY L BRAWNER, b. 1834, PWC, VA; m. JAMES H GARRISON (b. ca 1830), Abt. 1854 4. iv. JOHN PHILIP BRAWNER, b. 1836, PWC, VA; d. 09 February 1903, Alexandria, VA; m. (1) Sarah E (2) Ida Virginia Stonnell 5. v. FRANCES MATILDA BRAWNER, b. 11 November 1838, PWC, VA; d. 30 October 1917, PWC, VA m. (1) Edward W Shepherd (2) Charles H Brawner vi. FRANCIS BRAWNER, b. 11 November 1838, PWC, VA; d. 30 October 1917, PWC, VA. 6. vii. MARTHA MILDRED BRAWNER, b. 1842, PWC, VA; d. 1916, Haymarket, PWC., VA m. Lewis Adolphus Marstellar If anyone can give me more information about any of these people it would be great. Information about William L's parents would be really good. Information about Lucy Ann Webster's parents too. Cheers Lynne Simpson Canberra Australia

On my 1850 Virginia Census CD I have all of the following listed for Prince William County, Va. Household #299 census page 118 Lucy Webster age 79 born in Maryland living with her was James E. Webster age 14 born in Virginia. Household# 370 census page 123 William Brawner age 34 Farmer Real Estate value $6,000 born in Va. Sarah E. Brawner age 26 James R. Brawner age 1 Sarah A. Brawner age 22 Household # 832 census page 151 Col. Basil Brawner age 47 $8400. Va. Malinda 47 William J. 21 Julia F. 16 Sarah J. 13 Virginia E. 11 Household 711 census page 143 Jas. R. Webster age 40 Cooper born in Va. Delia 35 Elizabeth 14 Susan 9 Richard H. 6 Cloy A. 3 ________Webster 4/12 female all were born in Virginia Household #458 census page 158 Jane Webster age 40 born in Virginia she lived in a household by the name of Davis. The head of the household was Roy L. Davis he was a tenant with a family. These were the only Webster's listed for the Prince William Co. 1850 census. There is a Sarah Brawner age 60 born in Maryland listed as living with a family in household # 1032 in Norfolk, Va. by the name Pennington. 1850 census census page 191. I hope this helps June

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01FB_01BFE5B0.4C77FD00 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello Everyone... I thought this was important enough that I wanted to share it with all = of you. The following letter was written by Ron Eason and he said it so = very well that I asked for permission to forward it to all of you = (permission was granted). Listowners, I hope that you will consent to = post this also. Our heritage is being destroyed by government and uncaring individuals = in the name of progress or just lack of interest. We MUST take steps to = preserve it somehow. Won't you please read this and join us in signing = the petition...we have over 6300 signatures already, but that is just a = drop in the bucket...please help. Sandy Hi cousins and friends! Your help will be appreciated. I know that most of you are into genealogy as I am and if you have ever visited an older cemetery, you know what deplorable condition many of them are in. Are you aware that many states permit building on cemeteries if they are beyond a certain age? Firms will bulldoze right over headstones without so much as an "I'm sorry that we're burying your ancestors and their history will be permanently lost but that's business." It's too late for many family gravesites and older cemeteries but something can be done to preserve what is left and I would appreciate it if you would take just a moment of your time to help. I have just read and signed the online petition: "National Cemetery Protection Act" hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition service, at: http://www.petitiononline.com/sg0001/petition.html I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself. Whether or not you feel that this is an important issue, I would also app

In regard to a recent posting about the National Cemeteries Act http://www.petitiononline.com/sg0001/petition.html I have a question. Would the National Cemeteries Act apply only to cemeteries associated with the Veterans Administration, that is U.S. National Cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA (D.C.), or is it "National" in that it protects ALL cemeteries on a national basis whether part of the Veterans Administration cemetery system or owned by some other entity? I certainly believe that U.S. National Cemeteries such as Arlington mentioned above and Leavenworth National Cemetery near Kansas City, KS should be protected. ****************************** William C. Lathan, Jr Triangle, VA, U.S.A. wclathan@home.com http://WilliamLathan.tripod.com http://www.fluxzone.com/~blathan/

Found this petition on another mail list. It should be of great interest to genealogists. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Richey" <w005450@airmail.net> To: <ILSHELBY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2000 11:23 AM Subject: [ILSHELBY-L] "National Cemetery Protection Act" > Received this from another list. I haven't check this out yet, but > thought I would forward it to the list for all interested to check it > out for themselves. The cemeteries are a link to our ancestors and it > is heart wrenching to see any part of them destroyed. Once gone they > usually are never recovered. > Debie & Joe wrote: > "Hi Fellow Researchers, > I have just read and signed this online petition: > "National Cemetery Protection Act" > hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition > service, at: > > http://www.petitiononline.com/sg0001/petition.html > > I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might > agree, too. If you can spare a monent, please take a look, and consider > signing yourself" > > Dave R. >