In a message dated 8/15/2005 7:52:31 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << I was recently pointed to the Library of Virginia's patents and grants. Does anyone have a suggestion for connecting this information with specific counties? >> Go to: http://ajax.lva.lib.va.us/F/FMXF22YJ5DG7TNCCAM9D59K13F6U83U16B958FD8KL3SVS5SFH -02931?func=file&file_name=find-m-lva01 and click on the box on the left side near the bottom for: "Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants/Northern Neck Grants and Surveys" Then near the top where it says: "Type word or phrase" Enter something similar to one of the following examples. (You don't need to capitalize any words): Type: Washington (to retrieve all Washington County Patents and Grants) Type: "Smyth County" (to retrieve all Smyth County Patents and Grants) Use the quotes to exclude the surname of "Smyth" from the search. Type: Washington McSpadden (to retrieve all Washington County Patents and Grants that have the surname McSpadden) Type: Washington McSp* (to retrieve all Washington County Patents and Grants that have various mis-spellings of the McSpadden surname -- such as "McSpader") Type: Washington edm*on (to retrieve all Washington County Patents and Grants that have various spellings of Edmiston, Edmonson, Edmondson, Edmundson) (You can use the * for a "wild card" in front, within, or at the end of a surname or other word as long as there are at least 3 letters used with the "wild card") Type: Washington 1790 (to retrieve up all Patents and Grants issued for Washington County in 1790) Type: Washington McSp* 1830 (to retrieve up all Patents and Grants issued for McSpadden's in Washington County in 1830 ) Type: Washington "320 acres" (to retrieve up all Patents and Grants issued for Washington County that contain 320 acres). Use quotes to keep from getting page 320 or reel 320, etc. Type: Washington Cedar Creek (to retrieve all Patents and Grants in Washington Co. that have Cedar Creek in their description) If a creek name is also a surname then use quotes as follows -- Type: Washington "Baker* Creek" (to retrieve all Patents and Grants in Washington Co. that have Baker Creek, Bakers Creek or Baker's Creek in their description) Type: Washington Middle Fork (to retrieve all Patents and Grants in Washington Co. that have Middle Fork in their description) Type: Washington Abingdon (to retrieve all Patents and Grants in Washington Co. that have Abingdon in their description) IMPORTANT -- If the search does not find any results, you will need to re-click on the box for: "Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants/Northern Neck Grants and Surveys" Otherwise you will get a "not found" even if there is data available. Bob Ford