Byron,
    I've been waiting for someone more knowledgeable than me, but I'll tell 
you what I do know.  Maybe it will stimulate the discussion since these are 
important questions.
1. Road crews:  Unfortunately I can't find my source material but I believe 
the way it works is that people petition the court to establish a road in 
their area.  A court order (generally found in Court Order Books) is then 
required to assign people along the road-to-be to work on the crew.  The 
best I have been able to determine, males over 16 that lived in the 
immediate area were assigned to the crew.  An overseer was appointed to lead 
the crew.  So my take is that you can infer he lived close to the road and 
was over 16.  I have ancestors that were on such crews so I would appreciate 
more info also.
2.  Deed witnesses:  I've seen it stated that males over 14 could witness 
deeds; although I've also read that about any aged males sometimes would 
witness.  I've seen sons, brothers, and fathers as witnesses.  I don't know 
of any constraints.
3. testator witnesses:  Here also, I have seen sons and brothers as 
witnesses.  I don't think the witnesses can be named in the will as 
recipients, though.
    Maybe someone will jump in with more/better info.
Jim
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Byron Bowman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 5:47 AM
Subject: [VA-ROOTS] requirements for 18th century road crew members and for 
witnesses to a deed


Dear list members,
       Will someone answer the following questions for me please?
    What can be inferred from a man being assigned to be a member of a
road crew during  the early years of a county’s existence?
    How closely related could witnesses be to the grantor & grantee in a
deed?
    How closely related could witnesses be to the testator of a will?

Grateful for answers or suggestions for where to find the answers,
Byron Bowman

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