In partial response to the messages contained in VO 2 #168, from VESTRY BOOK OF ST. PAUL'S PARISH, HANOVER COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1706-1786, p 251, Precinct 16, the orders to procession in 1715, did not include land of Robert Via, but when the return was made, the land of Robert Via was included, which indicates to me that Robert Via had acquired land in Precinct 16 between the time of the last processioning in 1711, and the return in 1715. Amor Via's land was in Precinct 14, and his land was inherited by William or bought by him. There was processioning done every four years, but there is explanation in the Introduction by Chamberlain that many pages of the Vestry are missing or partially torn out which could account for William's not being shown until 1731/32. The Precinct in which he is listed is 15, it appears, but in the course of the intervening years, the precinct numbers could have shifted from Amor's 14. Remnants of the same land holders or their heirs are in this same precinct that was occupied by Amor Via. In 1711, Amor was ordered to procession, but the return shows that it was Marg or Mary Via (Vin), widow, whose land was returned. I think this is the reason that we accept that Amor probably died about 1711. I would dearly like to see the original Vestry Book. I know that it is generally assumed that Amor's wife was Margaret, but I think her name could have been Mary just as well. As far as I have seen documentation, this Vestry is the only place her name appears. Margaret would have been abbreviated Mart not Marg. Mary would not have been abbreviated necessarily. A "g" not closed is a "y." The reverse is true also; if a "y" is closed, it would appear to be a "g." Both easy to do as penmanship is so personal. I descend from Robert, and from the evidence I have seen, my deduction is that he was older than William. I believe that William was fairly young when his father died and did not have the benefit of his father's teaching him to write (or read, it is assumed). His will is signed with a mark. Robert and Amor could write. There is example of Robert's signature in this Vestry. He and Amor were overseers at various times in their precincts, and one of the qualifications of being overseer was that returns had to be "written." Hence, they could write. In The New Kent Vestry and Register Chamberlain gives an excellent explanation of the ramifications of processioning in the Introduction. Perhaps another reason that Amor was not on tax roll in 1689 is that his 50 acres that he is shown with on the 1704 Quit Rent Roll had not been recorded, especially if he had had to work off an indenture. Fifty acres was the amount he would have been awarded by the crown under law after end of indenture. That 50 acres certainly is a red flag that he was indentured, although it is not proof, of course. My descent is from Robert to Littleberry to Josiah to Carter to Andrew Jackson to Walter Turner to Roy Daniel to myself. My great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Via, sold his inherited land that had been a part of Robert's original holdings in 1884, and came to central Texas. We laugh and say that we have moved only twice in 200 years. Because the land passed to my line, and the land can be traced in Hanover in the processioning records before the revolution, then in land tax records (they were not destroyed along with so much of Hanover records) commencing in 1782, it was fairly easy to track my ascent to Amor. My knowledge of the Via lines after they left Hanover is slight. I have seen the big Maupin charts, the wills in Albemarle in the 18th century; I know of some of William's children, whom Amor's daughter, Judith, maried, but I have done no original research of those Vias after they scattered. I have a good working knowledge of all of those when they were in New Kent/Hanover if they left records, and records were not destroyed. I know the names of sons of Robert who inherited his land, but I have no certain knowledge of his daughters. I have found no extant records. If one commences research in a "burned record county," it is a slow, painful, frustrating task, but there is always more that is extant than what one is led to believe, and it can be found if one is determined enough. It is certainly a challenge. If anyone has any documentation that Amor was born in France (assumed by many, I think) and in what year, I would appreciate very much being privy to source of such data. Also if there is any documentation that Amor was ever shown with name "William" preceding Amor, I would appreciate knowing source of that one also. I have been seriously researching the line in Virginia and in many parts of Europe for about 30 years but have found no documentation of Amor in Europe at all. I have wondered if he were hatched crossing the Atlantic. Janelle Via McKown