To the Editor:

My name is Arthur Johnson and I am 12 years old.

I attend Southampton Middle School. I am also a Boy Scout with Troop 17 in Franklin. I would like to share with you some information about something that my brother and I noticed this past weekend.

After coming across this change, we were told that there had been an article in The Tidewater News telling about the update, but we felt the need to say thanks.

My brother attends college in Richmond, so when he comes home sometimes, we like to research our family history. In checking we found a website that the clerk of courts office put online about some of our ancestors.

We were able to find and actually print some information that we had been seeking for a while. It was amazing to find the information we needed without going to the courthouse and searching through numerous books.

I would like to thank Richard L Francis, circuit court clerk of Southampton County, his staff and other helpers for making this possible. They take care of the court records.

The website where you can find this information is www.brantleyassociation.com. This site tracks back numerous books and records such as court order books from 1749-1881, court minute books from 1749-1861, marriage records from 1750-1890, will books from 1749-1881, deed books from 1749-1881, birth records from 1853, commission of safety from 1775-1776, procession maps books from 1826-1836, voter registration books from 1902, and death records from 1853-1890.

As you can see there is a lot of useful information on this website. This website has helped my brother and me a lot.

Again, we would like to thank Richard L Francis and his staff, and all others who put this amazing website together so that people can research their family history at their convenience online.

Arthur A. Johnson

Franklin