In a message dated 6/18/99 11:45:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jfwise@mindspring.com writes: << If we can date that "Wise Forks" name it may confirm that there were people with the WISE surname in that 1720-1750 time frame and place. >> John, here are some of the following tidbits of information about "Wise Communities" in NC from The North Carolina Gazetteer a Dictionary of Tar Heel Places by William S. Powell, 1968, The University of North Carolina Press at Chapel Hill. Wise, community in n Warren County between Malones Creek and Sauls Creek. Alt. 392. Settled in 1890s and named for Henry Wise, local resident. A post office was est. there in 1891 but was discontinued in 1951. (Page 540) Wise Branch, rises in sw Buncombe County and flows ne into Bill Moore Creek. (Page 540) Wise Forks, community in nw Jones County. Named for local family. Known as Wise's Crossroads in 1863 when a Civil War engagement took place here on April 28. The battle is referred to variously as Wise's Crossroads, Dover Crossroads, and First Gum Swamp. See also Gum Swamp. (Page 540) Wise Knob, sw Buncombe County near the headwaters of Bill Moore Creek. (Page 540) Wiseman's View, nw Burke County, overlook for Linville Gorge. Named for William Wiseman, early settler who came from London in the 18th century. (Page 540) Wise's Crossroads, See Gum Swamp; Wise Forks. (Page 540) Gum Swamp rises in nw Jones County, w of the town of Dover, and flows nw into Craven County where it enters Tracey Swamp. Formerly both were known as Gum Swamp. Two Civil War engagements took place on Gum Swamp. One on April 23 and the other on May 22, 1863. The first engagement is called by various names - Wise's Crossroads, Dover Crossroads, and First Gum Swamp. (Page 208-209) "Scotland" could have been an error of interpretion after 1899 by those not familiar with the geography of North Carolina and inferring it to be the country of Scotland rather that Scotland County, North Carolina. Al