Rowland Via, son of William & Phebe Via, named one of his sons (probably the oldest) Robert. He married Martha Carter in Amherst County on 6 Nov. 1838. He very well may have been named after Rowland's deceased brother. This is just speculation, but it does show that the name Robert was in William's & Phebe's family. Let's see if we can ascertain which, if any, son of John (of Amherst) Robert (who married Patsey Lane) was descended from. I wish to follow what happened to the land John bequeathed to his sons. 1.) John Jr.- Deed Book F, Amherst Co., Va., p117. 25 Apr. 1786. Jno. Via (Vie) & wife Mary, AC, to Absolom Stinchcomb, AC, for L10-17-6, 72 1/2 acres both sides N Fork Elk Island Creek. Lines: Jno. Via. Wit: Joel Walker, Chas. Wingfield, Wm. Via. Deed Book H, Amherst Co., Va., p422. 9 Dec. 1793. Absolom Stinchcomb, "Albert Co., Ga." to Wm. Layne, AC, for L20. 72 1/2 acres both sides Elk Island, N. Fork; part of tract of Jno. Via. Lines of Via. Wit: Henry Arrington, Thos. Johns, Rich. Gatewood. Final Proof 15 Oct. 1798, and noted that Gatewood has died. Deed Book L, Amherst Co., Va., p12. 15 Aug. 1807. William Lane, Waggoner, AC, to Samuel Porter Lane, AC, ...6sh. 72 1/2 acres survey of 25 Apr. 1786. Lines: Jonathan Via; North Fork Elk Island Creek. 2.) David- Deed Book H, Amherst Co., Va., p235. 18 Sep. 1797. David Via & wife Eliz., AC, to Thos. Sproadlin, AC, for L12, 72 1/2 acres N. Fork Fishing Creek, part of 290 acres that Jno. Via left by will to sons. Lines: Wm. Via, Wm. Lain, Wit: Jno. Horsley, Chas. Taliaferro, Sam'l. Arrington. Deed Book L, Amherst Co., Va., p123. 8 Sep. 1807. Thomas Spradling and wife, Nancy, AC, to George Shrader AC, L73, 72 1/2 acres both sides North Fork Elk Island Creek. Lines: William Lain. Wit: James Franklin Jr., James P. Garland, B. Stone. 3.) Gideon- Deed Book G, Amherst Co., Va., p598. 10 Jun. 1795. Gideon Via, Buckingham Co., to Danl. Perrow, AC, for L80, 72 1/2 acres both sides N. Fork of Fishing Creek. Grantor's one fourth part of 290 acres granted to Jno. Via by pat., 1 Sep. 1780; includes plantation whereon- at lower end- grantor formerly lived. Wit: Jno. Horsley, N. Powell, Wm. Churk, Ro. B. Hill (Hare?) Churk not plain. Deed Book H, Amherst Co., Va., p441. 19 Jan. 1799. Danl. Perrow & wife Anne, AC, to Thos. Spradling, AC, for 30L, 72 1/2 acres both sides N. Fork Fishing Creek; part of tract left by Jno. Via to his four sons. Wit: Wilson Penn, Wm. Jordan, Jas. Pamplin. 4.) William- Deed Book I, Nelson Co. (formerly Amherst) Va., p58. 9 Sep. 1808. William Via and wife, Pheaby, to William Camden, L100, 72 1/2 acres---left to William by father. Lines: Susannah Spradling, George Shrader, George Hylton, Webster heirs. Wit: Leroy Camden, Micajah Pendleton, Hiram McGinnis, Jno. White- head. According to the book by Floyd Benjamin Layne, Patsey, the daughter of William (Waggoner) Layne, married Robert Via. As you can see from the above land records, it was William (waggoner) Layne who wound up buying John Jr.s 72 1/2 acres given by his father. At the time when Robert Via married Patsey Lane in 1804, William Via was the only Via living next to William (waggoner) Layne. William Via and William (waggoner) Layne were neighbors from 1793 to 1807. I think this gives some credence to the belief that Robert Via, who married Patsey Lane, was a son of William & Phebe Via. Just something to ponder. Jeff Viar