This book deals primarily with Smith wills and family lines from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. It contains several family Smith histories submitted by different individuals on their own family lines.

Adapted from a series of articles which appeared in the index journal from 1940 to October 1950 under title "On old roads" written by H.L. Watson (father of author).

Bradhams are believed to have arrived in South Carolina from Virginia or North Carolina before 1750. There is evidence that some of them, including James Randolph Bradham, whose descendants are the focus of this work, participated in the Revolutionary War with General Thomas Sumter and General Francis Marion. Bradham families documented by the author have resided chiefly in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois.