Dear Judy, I have turned on this computer for the first time since before Christmas. I have been ill with high fever, and my poor brain still feels rather fried. However, I shall do the best I can abut Martha without digging out all her notes. I feel certain I have the name of her parents but I shall have to dig through additional files. Do you have or do you have access to the Official Atlas to Accompany The Official Records of the Civil War? I do not know where you live, but I know there is at least one copy in LVA. In dear old burned Hanover, those maps are a real blessing. Both my widowed gread grandmothers are noted on them. Anyhow, without actually knowing if you refer to Martha Via of Hanover County . . . She was married to William Via. son of Edmund Via son of Gideon Via (The Negro slave, Rubin, is still in her possession; that is one reason I know of whom we speak) I believe she was William's second wife (at least). She outlived him for decades. William had a son, but he must have died before he reached his majority. William's will is extant. He leaves everything to Martha (plantation and abut 100 acres and a slave or two if the two have no children). They didn't. Upon her decease, all goes to William's nephew, James, youngest son of Edmund if I remember correctly. The land is in and around Studley, near Bethesda Church and there was a pitched battle there during the Civil War. If you look at one of the maps, she is always referred to as Widow Via or Mrs. Via (not my widow Via). She lived near Gilson Via, closer to Old Church. If you have heard from no one about Martha, let me know, and I will concentrate on looking for data. Martha and William had no children. That is the reason James inherited the land. Janelle