Genealogical research in U.S. censuses begins with identifying correct county jurisdictions ??o assist in this identification, the map Guide shows all U.S. county boundaries from 1790 to 1920. On each of the nearly 400 maps the old county lines are superimposed over the modern ones to highlight the boundary changes at ten-year intervals. Accompanying each map are explanations of boundary changes, notes about the census, & tocality finding keys. In addition, there are inset maps which clarify ??erritorial lines, a state-by-state bibliography of sources, & an appendix outlining pitfalls in mapping county boundaries. Finally, there is an index which lists all present day counties, plus nearly all defunct counties or counties later renamed-the most complete list of American counties ever published.

Grayson County is famous in southwestern Virginia as the cradle of the New River settlements--perhaps the first settlements beyond the Alleghanies. The Nuckolls book is equally famous for its genealogies of the pioneer settlers of the county, which, typically, provide the names of the progenitors of the Grayson County line and their dates and places of migration and settlement, and then, in fluid progression, the names of all offspring in the direct and sometimes collateral lines of descent. Altogether somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 persons are named in the genealogies and indexed for ready reference.

The personal property tax lists for the year 1787.

Charles Davies (b.ca. 1706) emigrated from England to Philadelphia, and married Hannah Matson in 1732/1733. Descendants (chiefly spelling the surname Davis) and relatives lived in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, California and elsewhere.

Report provides the total population for each of the nation's 3,141 counties from 1990 back to the first census in which the county appeared.

William Williams immigrated to Virginia and settled in Grayson County. He was the father of three children, one of whom was Thomas (b. ca. 1732-1790). He was the father of six children. One of his descendants was John Williams (1866-1927) who married Mittie Eaton and they eventually moved form Tennessee to Oklahoma. They were the parents of 12 children. Descendants married into the McBroom and Whiteley families. Descendants live in Oklahoma, Texas and other parts of the United States.

Guide to using the resources in the National Archives for conducting geneological research.