on 8/24/02 8:18 PM, Mrsrubi@aol.com at Mrsrubi@aol.com wrote: > I'm new to this list so bare with me. My 4th great grandfather was Joel > Thompson. I believe that he was born in Surry County sometime around 1755, > but that is really a guess. I do know that he was married to a woman named > Sally and had a son Willis who definitely was born in Surry in December 1777. > Willis married Catherine Holt in March 1808 and then had a son also named > Willis, born in September of 1911.I believe there were 4 or 5 other > children.I live in upstate NY and can tell you that our library here has next > to nothing on Virginia and the Confederacy.Last week we took a great trip to > Virginia, but unfortunately we drove thru Surry after hours and were not > about to stop at the courthouse for info. We spent many hours at the archives > in Richmond, but really didn't come away with what I had hoped. My > understanding is that many early records have been destroyed, but I'm hoping > that someone can tell me if there are any actual birth, marriage and death > certificates for this family. If I can find a marriage certificate, I > hopefully would find the names of Catherine Holt's parents and could then tie > in the Holt line to my family. And I'd like to know Joel Thompson's wifes > maiden names. So many questions ! I'd love to make another trip down to > Virginia, but I know that won't be for awhile. So if anyone sees a connection > with my family, can give me any information or just head me in the right > direction, I'd truly appreciate the help. Contact me off list if you'd like > or if it's info that might help someone else, contact me thru the list. > Nancy Rubé > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > iI > > > ==== VASURRY Mailing List ==== > Don't forget to check out the Surry County VAGenWeb site at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vasurry/ > List Mistress is Eve Gregory egregory20@earthlink.net > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go > to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > Hi, my name is Cecil N. Thompson. too bad you did not stop at surry courthouse. they have many record books for the 1700's and 1800's. To your question concerning Joel Thompson, he is also a grandfather of mine. His child Willis did marry Catherine Holt. Joel was married to Sarah Hunnicutt. Joel's and Sarah's daughter Sarah Thompson married a Simm Thompson. I have not researched any of Joel's children other than Sarah's. If I can help you with Joels ancestry I have it back to 1725, and even further but without exact dates.

Hello All, Looking for connections to the Henry Savage/Savedge/Savidge found below...believe he may be the father of William Savedge of Surry Co, VA.....some of William's children left Surry Co, Va for Edgecombe and Halifax Co's, NC Thanks for any help, Audrey Orlando, FL Index to Surry Co wills Abstracts from Surryy Co, Virginia, Wills, Estate Accounts and Inventories 1730-1800 by Lyndon H. Hart III page 355: Henry SAVAGE. Account current and sale. Date 8 May 1741 Rec. 15 July 1741. Robert Wynne, sub-sheriff. Purchasers include Mary and Lovelace Savage. Amount due from Henry Savage's estate mentioned. page 624 will of Edward Long date: 12 May 1749 rec: 15 Aug 1749 Edward Long, executor. Sons: William, George, Thomas, Lewis, and Edward. Dtrs: Mary Long, Mary Ann Long, and Frances Moore, dtr of Edward Long (first 2 dtrs not 21). Wit: Henry SAVIDGE, Mercy Long page 884 inventory of William Long estate date: ___ rec. 15 Jan 1754 Henry SAVAGE, John Moring, and William SAVAGE, appraisers.

Greetings Listers! Just a reminder to check out the resources at the Surry VAGenWeb site. http://www.rootsweb.com/~vasurry/ Don't miss the How to Find Your Family Page. http://www.rootsweb.com/~vasurry/howtofind.html And remember to put your queries on the Query Board and to check the Query Archives for your subjects of interest. -- Eve S. Gregory, Historian and Director Virginia Foundation for Archaeological Research, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/~vavfar/ Frances Bland Randolph Chapter, NSDAR, VIS Chairman http://www.rootsweb.com/~vabrcdar/ Visit my home page for history and genealogy links! http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~eve368g/

Surry County Will Book "A" 1754-1764 Page 161 Thomas Oliver...17 Mar 1760/16 May 1760...Son William Oliver 175 acres called "Whiteheads". Daughter Ann Baker. Daughter Lucy Evans. Daughter Sarah Sturdivant. Daughter Elizabeth Oliver. Daughter Susanna Davis. Daughter Millia Spain. Wife Agnis Oliver land called "Hanfords" for life. Exors: Son William Oliver and my wife. Wit: James Jones and Benjamin Oliver. Thomas OLIVER, Wife Agnis OLIVER Son; William OLIVER married Frances MALONE, d/o William Malone Daughters; Ann BAKER, Lucy (married Benjamin) EVANS Sarah (married Mathew) STURDIVANT Elizabeth OLIVER Susanna (married Edward) DAVIS Millia (Mildred married Drury) SPAIN Grandchildren born 1740's - 1760's abstracted from Albemarle Parish Records; EVANS; John, William, Susanna and Archer, STURDIVANT; Oliver, Christobel and Susanna, SPAIN; Thomas, Agnus, Eppes, Augustine, OLIVER; Isaac, Lucy, Anna, Jane, Francis, Rebecca and Sarah Thomas Spain born 7/12/1760 in Sussex/Surry County Virginia born two months after his grandfather Thomas Oliver's will was probated, died 1/23/1840, Pitt Co., NC. This was my gggg grandfather. Jeffrey

I'm new to this list so bare with me. My 4th great grandfather was Joel Thompson. I believe that he was born in Surry County sometime around 1755, but that is really a guess. I do know that he was married to a woman named Sally and had a son Willis who definitely was born in Surry in December 1777. Willis married Catherine Holt in March 1808 and then had a son also named Willis, born in September of 1911.I believe there were 4 or 5 other children.I live in upstate NY and can tell you that our library here has next to nothing on Virginia and the Confederacy.Last week we took a great trip to Virginia, but unfortunately we drove thru Surry after hours and were not about to stop at the courthouse for info. We spent many hours at the archives in Richmond, but really didn't come away with what I had hoped. My understanding is that many early records have been destroyed, but I'm hoping that someone can tell me if there are any actual birth, marriage and death certificates for this family. If I can find a marriage certificate, I hopefully would find the names of Catherine Holt's parents and could then tie in the Holt line to my family. And I'd like to know Joel Thompson's wifes maiden names. So many questions ! I'd love to make another trip down to Virginia, but I know that won't be for awhile. So if anyone sees a connection with my family, can give me any information or just head me in the right direction, I'd truly appreciate the help. Contact me off list if you'd like or if it's info that might help someone else, contact me thru the list. Nancy Rubé iI

Sorry for the error. The publication date for "Genealogy; How To Find Your Ancestors" (Heritage Books, Bowie, MD; ISBN: 0-7884-1476-3) was 2000, not 1999. The information related appears on pp. 17, et seq. thereof. Paul

I have been asked when Rev. War vets were pensioned. I believe the following is correct, though the precise dates within the years when changes were made may vary and are sometimes debatable. The passage of a law then, as now, did not mean that the effective dates were clearly established or that Congress had yet funded the amounts prescribed. Paul As stated in the book "Genealogy; How To Find Your Ancestors" (Heritage Books, Bowie, MD., 1999), all men who served in the Rev. and were maimed, wounded, or severely injured in a service related activity were pensioned very soon after the war. Then in 1818, and thereafter until mid-1828, those who were veterans and were of very "reduced means" - destitute; in poverty - were granted pensions, and in that year - 1828 - all remaining living veterans were pensioned. Finally, in 1836 all living widows were pensioned. Notice the result: If a Rev. veteran was not injured in the service, was not poverty stricken, and died before 1828, he will NOT appear at any place in the pension records. So, be careful with your presumptions about the apparent lack of any record of a suspected veteran. Still though, remember also that he very likely did earn land grant rights, even though not pensioned, if he performed military duties. So, when you seek his records, where the NATF form requires you to specify whether you wish to gain "Pension Records" or "Military Records" consider this aspect OR order both, one on each of two forms. Paul ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== Do not post Advertisements, Chain Letters, Virus Warnings etc. to this list. If in doubt, Contact: G. Lee Hearl, Adm. at: glh@naxs.com Hosted by Rootsweb http://www.rootsweb.com ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

>>>From: MHG7867726@aol.com >>>To: gwbo@hotmail.com >>>Subject: The Southwark Parish, reported by Wm Byrd in did not extist > until 1825??? >>>Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 10:04:52 EDT >>> >>> IS THE REPORT BY CHARLES KIMBALL INCORRECT? >>> >>>Can you assist me in finding out if the information about the "School of >>>Mr. >>>Griffin called Christina, for Indians on the borders of my parish" from a >>>letter by The Reverend John Cargill Minister of Southwark Parish--made to >>>the>>>Bishop of London was correct? >>> >>>Also, in question a report in 1728 from the chronicles of Wm. Byrd's 1728 >>>Expedition for Surveying the Boundary lines between Virginia and North >>>Carolina "On Sept. 27th the chaplain on the exposition christened two >>>children on Cabin Branch, Off Fountain's Creek. The next day they passed >>>Pea>>>Hill Creek--Lizard Creek--The duty should have fallen to the Parish >>>> Priest, > >>>Reverend John Cargill of Southwark Parish in which these settlers lived, >>>the>>>Rev. Cargill was over 100 miles away near the James River. He knew, >>>vaguely,>>>that the "Indian School" was in his care, but he seemed averse ever to >>>venturing into the uncivilized woods." >>> >>>I just received an E-mail saying the parish of John Cargill in Southwark >>>did>>>not exist until 1825???? from a Mr. Giles Goddard--Is he correct? Southwark Parish was created by the Virginia General Assembly in November 1647. Documentation is in Hening's Statutes at Large (reprint Charlottesville, 1969) vol. 1, p. 347. Information from the Reverend John Cargill's 1724 report can be found at the Surry County Historical Society web site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaschsm/ Click on History Notes (on the bar at the left side) Scroll down and click on Reports to the Bishop of London -- Eve S. Gregory, Historian and Director Virginia Foundation for Archaeological Research, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/~vavfar/ Frances Bland Randolph Chapter, NSDAR, VIS Chairman http://www.rootsweb.com/~vabrcdar/ Visit my home page for history and genealogy links! http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~eve368g/

Brunswick County, VirginiaDeed Book 3 (1744-1749) Burgess a pole of their votes--Colo. John Wall--George Brewer, Joseph Wright, Moses Vincient,John Ogburn, Ninian Mitchel, William Davis, Joseph Massie[?],Nathan Harris, Richd. Ledbetter, Francis Deloach, Lizwel Sexton,Joseph Carter, Thomas Powell, William Jordan, William Ezell, JohnPeebles, William Wise, Joshua Clark, Charles Stuart, JamesJudkins, William Adams, Abraham Burton, Nathaniel Clark, ThomasTomerlin, David Lucas, John Dunn, Fostor Rives, Thomas Jeffris,Thomas Jacobs, James Douglas, John Massie, Henry Ledbetter, JamesUpchurch, John Tooke, Henry Cooke, John Vincient, WilliamMoseley, John Betty, William Wawmock, John Irby, William Wyche,William Betty, John Jackson, William McKnight, Nicholas Edmunds,George Walton, Eades Smith, Richard Hide, James Jordan, SamuelHarwell, James Sexton, William House, John Cooke [Cooker], ThomasVincient, William White, John Morgan, William Johnson, JosephHathcock, Thomas Scizon, George Rives, William Lovsey, ThomasTatum, John Steed, George Wyche, William Huff, Valintine White,Lawrence House, Charles Williams, William Powell, Daniel Cato,William Bishop, Thomas Collier, William Ren, George Harper,Timothy Rives, John Ray, John Harwell, James Lanier, Peter Wyche,Matthias Davis, John Misheaux, William Collier, Thomas DENTON,Amos Horton, William Smith, Thomas Wise, George Moseley, Richd.Ledbetter, Edward DENTON, Nathaniel Perry, Benjamin Ivey, ThomasClanton, Aaron Parks, John Jeffres, John Fennal, Jeremiah Brown, Adam Simms, John Butts, Benjamin Sewel, Hugh Daniel, ThomasLawrence, Thomas Carrie, John Smith, William Brewer, WilliamBarlow, Thomas Rives, John Walton, Richd. Burnett, Robert Lunday,Nathaniel Mitchel, James Hicks, Daniel Carill, James Parham,Joseph Parks, Thomas Williams, Charles Collier, Thomas Morris,William Fox, Thomas Austin, John Cato, John Daniel, ThomasJackson, Isaac Collier, Richard Ransom, William Whittington,Samuel Clark, Walter Campbell, Burwell Brown, Michael Wall Junr.,John Carril (Sworn), John Wall Junr., John Robinson, AbsolemAtkinson, Edward Goodrich, Richard Lanier. Michael Wall Sherif. Deed Book 3, Page 510. Hope this helps someone... Audrey

Some of lists are already in the USGENWEB archives. Go to the search page at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ussearch.htm Select state to search VA At Query line type in titheables I got 134 hits, at least one I saw from Surry County. Good Hunting all, nameste' Jeannie

The Surry County Historical Society has copies in their office. I think copies are available for sale from The Virginia Genealogical Society. This list from Surry County is the most complete of any Va. County. They were written in our court orders. As a teaser, I have xeroxed all of the existing tythable lists [prox 35] from the 1700s. I also have work books for one half of Surry county for two later 1700s years, which includes signature of many heads of households. Would you believe that prox. 70% signed their own name? They have not been transcribed or published, however. Nothing would make me happier than to have a responsible party transcribe these records and make them available. It is going to be a BIG job. Best wishes, Jim Atkins ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Drake <martee@citlink.net> To: <VASURRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 4:28 PM Subject: Randall Holt of Surrey County, Virginia > Hi again, Helen. The lists of tithables for the years after 1660 or thereabouts and continuing through the remainder of the 17th-Century appeared in installments in the years 1985-1988 in the "Magazine of VA Genealogy." Those are most worthwhile for ANYONE researching early Surry. I understand that those lists have been published as a book, however I do not know of that fact for sure. How about it, Surry folks, are those published now? Paul > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Helen Jane Baugh > To: Paul Drake > Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 2:43 PM > Subject: Re: Randall Holt of Surrey County, Virginia > > > Dear Paul, > > A year ago you suggested I search tithables for Surry. Where can I get > ahold of these? Thank you. > > > > ==== VASURRY Mailing List ==== > Don't forget to check out the Surry County, Virginia, Historical Society > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaschsm/Index.html > List Mistress is Eve Gregory egregory20@earthlink.net > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Hi again, Helen. The lists of tithables for the years after 1660 or thereabouts and continuing through the remainder of the 17th-Century appeared in installments in the years 1985-1988 in the "Magazine of VA Genealogy." Those are most worthwhile for ANYONE researching early Surry. I understand that those lists have been published as a book, however I do not know of that fact for sure. How about it, Surry folks, are those published now? Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Helen Jane Baugh To: Paul Drake Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 2:43 PM Subject: Re: Randall Holt of Surrey County, Virginia Dear Paul, A year ago you suggested I search tithables for Surry. Where can I get ahold of these? Thank you.

Here is a bit better URL for the map and photo section to which I referred yesterday. Sorry about that. http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/

Here is a great website for genealogists; I have picked little Pinetops, NC as an illustration. Cut and paste this URL, type in whatever other city/town/area you want in the WORLD, and go search it out. There are both topo maps, and aerial photos for almost all areas, and you can zoom in on anything. Then bookmark your map and have it for your file. These also will print. Good luck. Paul <http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/image.asp?S=13&T=1&X=163&Y=2 477&Z=18&W=2>

I have been asked for references to my articles re evidence. Those are "Heritage Quest" May/June 1992, Issue #40 and "NGS Newsletter" vol. 17, #1, and vol. 17, No. #6. I tried to scan those, however my old scanner won't get the job done properly. Sorry about that. Paul

Hello all, Just thought I'd repost this outline of mine and see if anyone out there can connect. Thanks, Audrey Orlando, FL Descendants of William Savedge/Savidge/Savage 1 William Savedge/Savidge/Savage - 1777Surry Co, VA .. +Sarah ......... 2 James H Savedge/Savidge/Savage 1765VA - 1834NC ............. +Unknown .................... 3 James H Savage 1810VA -?? ........................ +Catherine Barfield 1815NC - after1853?? ............................... 4 William H Savage 1836 - ............................... 4 Analiza Savage 1838 - ............................... 4 James T Savage 1844 - ................................... +Marianna C. Bell Gwaltney ............................... 4 George Acrile Savage 1846 - 1916 ................................... +Sarah Elizabeth Phillips 1842 - 1884 ........................................... 5 John A Savage 1867 - 1894 ............................................... +Annie Unknown ........................................... 5 Nannie B Savage 1870 - ............................................... +Lynn Daughtry ...................................................... 6 Mary Daughtry .......................................................... +O'Connor Crumpler ...................................................... 6 Sara Daughtry .......................................................... +John A Watts ...................................................... 6 John (Bowser) Daughtry ...................................................... 6 George Daughtry .......................................................... +Evelyn Thurston ........................................... 5 Bettie May Savage 1872 - 1966 ............................................... +Stephen Shadrack Spivey 1876 - 1946 ...................................................... 6 Ruth Elizabeth Spivey 1899 - 1977 .......................................................... +Joseph Monterey Lewis 1893 - 1974 ...................................................... 6 Leonard Ricks Spivey 1903 - 1931 .......................................................... +Shellie Estelle McLamb 1903 - 2000 ...................................................... 6 George John Spivey 1907 - .......................................................... +Lois Edna Ross 1905 - 1999 ........................................... 5 George M Savage 1874 - ............................................... +Ila Eury ...................................................... 6 George Graham Savage ........................................... 5 James H Savage 1876 - 1876 ........................................... 5 Mary L (Mamie) Savage 1877 - 1916 ............................................... +Robert Ivey ...................................................... 6 Louise Ivey ...................................................... 6 George Ivey ...................................................... 6 Charles Tucker Ivey ...................................................... 6 Estelle Ivey ........................................... 5 Sara Floy Savage 1881 - 1963 ............................................... +Henry Martin Faison 1877 - 1958 ...................................................... 6 Daniel Edward Faison ...................................................... 6 Mertie Faison ...................................................... 6 Reba Faison ...................................................... 6 Hinton Faison ...................................................... 6 Alvorado Faison ...................................................... 6 Allyson Gordon Faison ...................................................... 6 Lloyd T Faison ...................................................... 6 Otto Faison ........................................... 5 Male Savage 1884 - 1884 ........................................... 5 Male Savage 1884 - 1884 ............................... *2nd Wife of George Acrile Savage: ................................... +Catherine Savannah Robbins - 1924 ........................................... 5 James J Savage 1888 - 1888 ........................................... 5 Lottie Mabel Savage 1889 - 1971 ............................................... +Richard Marion Hudson ...................................................... 6 Richard Marion Hudson, Jr 1912 - 1978 .......................................................... +Hellen Padgett 1914 - ...................................................... 6 Carlton Eugene Hudson 1914 - 1915 ...................................................... 6 Garland Francis Hudson 1916 - 1969 ...................................................... 6 Horace Norman Hudson 1919 - 1989 .......................................................... +Phyllis Brown ...................................................... 6 James David Savage Hudson 1921 - 1989 .......................................................... +Pauline Reed 1924 - ...................................................... 6 Catherine Elizabeth Hudson 1923 - .......................................................... +William O Tice 1922 - ...................................................... 6 Hilda Marie Hudson 1926 - .......................................................... +William Benjamin Strickland 1924 - 1992 ........................................... 5 Richard Acrol Savage 1897 - 1992 ............................................... +Rose Annie Branch 1907 - 1987 ........................................... 5 Eulah Savage 1903 - 1903 ........................................... 5 Beulah Savage 1903 - 1903 ............................... 4 Nancy D Savage 1849 - ............................... 4 Catherine P Savage 1853 - .................... 3 Sarah A Savage ........................ +William G Rawlings, Jr .................... 3 Nancy Savage ........................ +John Barfield ......... 2 William Savedge 1766 - ......... 2 Willis Savedge 1766 - ......... 2 Nicholas Hezekiah Savedge 1766 - 1840 ............. +Sally Batts .................... 3 William Ackrel Savedge 1798 - 1873 ........................ +Ursley Warren ............................... 4 Emeline Savedge .................... *2nd Wife of William Ackrel Savedge: ........................ +Mary S Hatch - 1878 ............................... 4 Winfield Scott Savedge 1837 - ................................... +Martha S Pond 1842 - ........................................... 5 Ellenar May Savedge 1868 - ........................................... 5 George Lee Savedge 1871 - ........................................... 5 Hunter B Savedge 1873 - ............................... 4 Virginius Acrill Savedge 1841 - ................................... +Joanne Porter ........................................... 5 William Acrell Savedge 1868 - ........................................... 5 Evora H Savedge 1872 - ............................... 4 Mary George Savedge 1833 - ............................... 4 Annaliza Warren Savedge 1836 - ............................... 4 Victoria T Savedge 1840 - .................... 3 Sallie Evans Savedge ........................ +John S Davis ............................... 4 Hannah A Davis 1839 - .................... 3 Talbert Henry Savedge .................... 3 Elizabeth Savedge .................... 3 Willie T Savedge ......... *2nd Wife of Nicholas Hezekiah Savedge: ............. +Keziah Phillips .................... 3 Richard Rush Savedge 1840 - 1919 ........................ +Rosa Emma Lane 1860 - ............................... 4 Rosa Cornelia Savedge 1878 - ............................... 4 Nicholas H Savedge 1880 - ............................... 4 Annie Mae Savedge 1883 - ................................... +William Elonzo Seward ........................................... 5 Mary Seward ............................... 4 Kezzie E Savedge 1886 - ............................... 4 Virgie E Savedge 1889 - 1947 ................................... +William E James 1889 - ........................................... 5 Bessie E James 1915 - ........................................... 5 Elmer W James 1918 - ............................... 4 Gracie E Savedge 1892 - ............................... 4 Elmer R Savedge 1900 - 1972 ......... 2 Edwin Savedge ......... 2 Rebecca Savedge ............. +John Judkins

Good wisdom, Paul. When I first started, I took the word of researchers as fact, especially when they were so adament about it. I find now that even the DAR is often in error, libraries & societies may have wrong information, and even the primary sources may be in error due to inept, naive or maleducated clerks of the day. I usually take microfilm or photocopies of primary documents (such as census, will books, court record books, original wills, etc.) to be equivalent to the primary document, but even these may be forged or contain erroneous information. Main point: document the source or reference. Just like you learned to do on high school research papers. Mark Paul Drake wrote: > > I have been asked how best to use the Internet for genealogical purposes. Because of the enormity of that resource, at best I can only make a few suggestions; those, the same suggestions I make to my classes. > > Though one day there will be zillions of such, there now are VERY few basic research sources yet available on the net, and the words of other researchers, while often well considered and from adequate sources, are NOT basic research. Those on the net who supposedly have information should be believed ONLY to the extent they have sources for what they say and will share those sources with you. I personally look upon the net as a vast telephone system accessing a million people, and only to the extent that I would believe a stranger on the phone would I rely on ANY information from a stranger I might find on the net. Remember, you do not need - NOR WANT - the guesses of anybody, not even your own. > > Next, you should first go to the Internet state and county archives, libraries, and historical and genealogical societies websites for the area of the last whereabouts of an ancestral line of which you have knowledge. Make a list of what sources are available there, and also carefully note what is NOT there. It is those materials NOT available on the net that specifically must be gleaned from others who are researching the same area and lines. If a website provides a specific reliable source, use it; if it does not, make a note that you yet must access that information somewhere else. > > However you proceed, whether on the net or otherwise, you MUST pursue and research all of the major categories of records not yet on the net; namely, courthouses, libraries/archives, churches, and veterans' and privately held records. > > The Internet is, at best, a ready source of direct contact with records and people, however only by learning what is NOT there, and then pursuing those sources, just as you did before the Inet existed, is it possible to use the net effectively as a tool. As said so often, the net is but ONE tool of many, varies immensely in reliability, and the principles of good research are not in any way changed by the existence of that new source. > > So, research as you always have, use what few reliable records the net now provides, and listen with tongue-in-cheek to the words of others that are not presented to you with a quotable and RELIABLE source. Good luck. Paul > > ==== VASURRY Mailing List ==== > Don't forget to check out the Surry County, Virginia, Historical Society > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaschsm/Index.html > List Mistress is Eve Gregory egregory20@earthlink.net > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 -- Mark A. Murphy TiAER Laboratory Manager "Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."-Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.

I have been asked how best to use the Internet for genealogical purposes. Because of the enormity of that resource, at best I can only make a few suggestions; those, the same suggestions I make to my classes. Though one day there will be zillions of such, there now are VERY few basic research sources yet available on the net, and the words of other researchers, while often well considered and from adequate sources, are NOT basic research. Those on the net who supposedly have information should be believed ONLY to the extent they have sources for what they say and will share those sources with you. I personally look upon the net as a vast telephone system accessing a million people, and only to the extent that I would believe a stranger on the phone would I rely on ANY information from a stranger I might find on the net. Remember, you do not need - NOR WANT - the guesses of anybody, not even your own. Next, you should first go to the Internet state and county archives, libraries, and historical and genealogical societies websites for the area of the last whereabouts of an ancestral line of which you have knowledge. Make a list of what sources are available there, and also carefully note what is NOT there. It is those materials NOT available on the net that specifically must be gleaned from others who are researching the same area and lines. If a website provides a specific reliable source, use it; if it does not, make a note that you yet must access that information somewhere else. However you proceed, whether on the net or otherwise, you MUST pursue and research all of the major categories of records not yet on the net; namely, courthouses, libraries/archives, churches, and veterans' and privately held records. The Internet is, at best, a ready source of direct contact with records and people, however only by learning what is NOT there, and then pursuing those sources, just as you did before the Inet existed, is it possible to use the net effectively as a tool. As said so often, the net is but ONE tool of many, varies immensely in reliability, and the principles of good research are not in any way changed by the existence of that new source. So, research as you always have, use what few reliable records the net now provides, and listen with tongue-in-cheek to the words of others that are not presented to you with a quotable and RELIABLE source. Good luck. Paul

In addition to the helpful comments of Mr. Wallace and Ms. Hatcher, and her suggestion that we put "dead ends" aside and "soak in those for a while", what too many of us fail to realize is that genealogical searching is about the WHERES of the people you seek. While it seems so apparent as to not require comment, we should all remind ourselves from time to time that "Everyone had to be somewhere ALL of the days of his or her life" (and buried someWHERE), and therein is the key to locating families and individuals. It is very difficult and time-consuming to search all of the world or even all of the USA for any individual, hence the area - the "where" - must be reduced in size. It is likely that one married near where the bride and her family lived (and she had family lines there); probable that one was raised and attended church near where the parents and some collateral family members lived; owned land, voted, paid taxes (or tithes) and appeared in courts in the county where the head of household and his family lived; first had children born and baptized near where they lived - in that county/colony; died and had some legal consideration given to an estate where he lived AND/OR owned land, and on and on. So, concentrate your research and make every effort through censuses especially, tax and tithable lists, marriage, church and death records to find the "wheres" - the states/colonies and counties - of the missing ancestral extended family, then search all resources of THAT colony/county before making any other efforts. The internet has value in that regard. Once you determine a state or county, first search out recognized state and county web-sites and historical/genealogical societies' sites and what is available in those sources having to do with those "wheres." Then and only then go to the shotgun sites of other researchers. Unless you simply want to know what someone else has found and what those people think, "where, where, where" is what genealogical research is all about. Good luck. Paul For everyone who complains about hitting a brick wall (and don't we all?), I highly recommend you read the article by Patricia Law Hatcher on the Ancestry newsletter. The particular link to Hatcher's column is http://www.ancestry.com/rd/prodredir.asp?sourceid=831&key=A594001 She says walk away!!!

I just confirmed the will of a Simon Murphy in 1673 Lancaster Co. VA. The book citation says it was in a "Bundle of Loose Papers". I just spoke to the county clerk's office (nice folks) who said the loose papers were transferred to the state library of Virginia for preservation. Got an email in to the archives desk there. Meanwhile, anyone in Lancaster Co. researching Davenport in the 1670s? I know no one there researches Murphys because there weren't any, except Simon, until well after 1800. Anyone know about migration patterns from Lancaster to Surry/Isle of Wight in later 1600s, or was the migration the other way? How about to & from Williamsburg or James City? Sorry to bore those not interested in this research. A Simon Murphy Will here, VA 1673: Murphys in "Abstracts Lancaster Co., VA, Wills, 1653-1800" by Ida J. Lee Murphys & others in "Marriages of Wake Co, NC, 1770-1868" by Brent Holcomb Murphys & others in "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 5: 1741-1749" by Dennis Hudgins -- Mark A. Murphy http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~freshnup/markmurph/index2.htm "Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."-Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.