Reply to note from John Ostendorf (masquerading as Michele Ostendorf):
It must be remembered that both NC and VA were states that strongly
protected a married woman's right to a portion of the land acquired during
marriage. As you read through the deeds of the day, you see a wife's name
mentioned often. The fact that there is no wife listed on Zachariah's
deeds is something that cannot be ignored and suggests that she was already
dead making any reference to a daughter Abigail in the will of James
Osborne proof that he was not Zachariah's father in law.<<
Interesting point. I do not recall from any of the earliest deeds if her
name ever shows up on a deed. You are closest to that, have you seen it
even on the very earliest deeds?
Orin R. Wells
Wells Family Research Association
Kent, Washington
<ORWells(a)bigfoot.com>
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wellsfam/wfrahome.html