This Web Page is still under construction and will probably never completed!

This research has been a desire of mine for most of my life. However,  it
didn't have too high of a priority until my retirement.  Here is the place that 
I must say, that if you are considering doing a family history, please get 
started early enough to talk to your parents and grandparents.  Dig out all 
the old pictures, letters and other documents the family has accumulated 
over the years.  A family bible should provide enough information to give you 
a good start.  Your Family history Center is the best place to start.
  
My very dear friend Carol Collier, that managed the Family History Center 
at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Pasadena, Texas can 
take the credit (blame) for getting me started, in earnest, on my research.

Since 1996 I have been tracing my ancestors.  I have researched the 
records in the court houses in Alleghany, Rockbridge, Bedford, Nelson and 
Botetourt Counties in Virginia.  I have researched at the National Archive 
Branches in Laguna Niguel and San Bruno California.  Numerous libraries and 
Family History Centers at various cities in Texas, Nevada, California and 
Virginia.

I have been using The Family Tree Maker since Ver 3.0.  I must say, without
a computer I would not attempt the research on the scale that I have. The 
Internet and the AOL message boards have proven to be a very good source in 
researching my ancestors.  There are too many to name, but when you can get individuals in Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, Arkansas and Virginia all working toward the same goal, good things have to happen! I wish to say, "THANK YOU" to all the people I have corresponded with and has provided assistance on the Internet or otherwise assisted me in this endeavor. 

A few notes about my files.
1. I have used (MNUK) to indicate that the Maiden Name is UnKnown for a 
     given individual.  (GNUK) would indicate that he Given Name is UnKnown.    
     I use Abt.  in the date field unless I have a conformation on the actual 
     date.  I also use a "Rule of Thumb" to establish dates that are unknown.
     I.E. first child born next year after marriage.  First marriage 20 years
      after birth date.  The same birth date for both husband and wife are 
     indicated when one or neither is known.
  
2. A lot of my notes are just that!  I file any tidbit of information I find on 
an individual in the notes.  I keep promising myself to rewrite the notes in
     a narrative from so they will make sense to someone other than me. 

3. A lot of the information is not proven.  As I don't intend to apply to any 
Genealogical Society for membership nor do I have any desire to become 
a Certified Genealogist if I can satisfy myself as to the lineage of an 
individual I will enter him with that notation.

4. Determining the number of "cousins" to enter had always been a problem 
for me.  You may see an entry in the Notes, "There were XX children of 
this marriage.  See (Reference ) for the names."

There are 3127 individuals in this data base as of March 1, 2000.  I hope to 
update it monthly because as I said this will never be finished and changes 
occur daily.
Feel free to use any of the information herein but please give proper credit 
to the author.

Thank you,
Charlie Leighton