Pete - A few days ago, I received films from the LDS for Knox County, Ohio, and was following up on some of the Shapter - Sargent issues I mentioned to you. I found that Alfred Sargent was quite active in property transactions in the decade before he died (the 1840's) - being involved in twelve different transactions.

The headline is that he was involved in a transaction with John Shapter in the 1846-48 deedbook, and was involved in a transaction with Philip Shapter in the 1845-1847 deedbook. I also found five other deed references to John Shapter, the earliest in the 1843-45 deedbook, two in the 1848-49 deedbook, one in the 1849-1850 deedbook, and one in the 1856-57 deedbook. There was a second reference to Philip Shapter in the 1849-1850 deedbook.

The filmed index only covered deeds through about 1856, and was only an index. I will have to order more films to actually see the deeds, which I probably won't do until I can get to Salt Lake next year. But this places these two Shapters, as well as Betsy, in Knox County in the 1840's. I still haven't found Betsy (Shapter) Sargent after Alfred's 1849/1850 probate, in which it states she went to Pickaway County, Ohio. I will keep you posted. I believe these are names in the Shapters you are researching.

Do you know where your John and Philip were during the 1840's?

John Laird