Judy, They started with boys much younger than "teenagers." If property bounds were processioned every four years, pre-teen boys would have the opportunity to participate 3-4 times before they typically owned land of their own. That collective memory preserved property boundaries as you noted - when the trees blew down or the creek changed course. For example, in St. Peter's Parish (New Kent County) in 1706 two vestrymen were appointed to procession the parish line with the upper parish representatives and two others were selected for a similar duty concerning the lower Parish line. They were warned to "give timely notice to bring children to See the Sd processioning." [my italics] See Chamberlayne, C.G., editor and transcriber. The Vestry Book and Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, 1684-1786. Richmond: Library of Virginia, p. 117. Mary Beth Dalton Williamsburg, VA -----Original Message----- From: Judith Bailey Gabor [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 3:07 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Processioning Minimum Age I have read several places that in addition to adjacent landowners serving as processioners, teenage boys were desirable as they would or might remember the boundaries long after their elders were gone and also long after the white oak had died or the boulder been moved or the river course changed or dried up. Knowledge that a person was a processioner provides solid information that the person lived on or near the property being processioned. Judy Gabor To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html