Hi Nancy Clay & Sandy Moten, The question isn't a dumb one. We kept loosing the families working back & figured they didn't just drop out of the sky. Then we realized [by someones suggestion that was in genealogy longer than we were] to find out what county or counties that county was made from. I think we've chased the Perdues, Dillions, Pruntys, etc. across most of the counties in VA. It depends on what part of Mercer Co. they were in. Mercer became a county in 1837 & was made from Giles & Tazewell. Giles was formed in 1806 from Montgomery, Monroe, & Tazewell. Tazewell was formed 1800 from Wythe & Russell. And it goes on. We finally made a note book of the states we work with, when the counties were formed & from what county/counties. Life got a little simpler. Hope this helps. Barb & Bill Kelley in St. Petersburg, FL