Janet,

Thanks for your response.  The lineal surnames I'm researching are:
BACKUS (sp?), BRABHAM, BROWNFIELD, GAILLARD (sp?), KEARSE, LOWNDES, NIX,
ROBINSON, STARLING, and WALLER.  Non-lineal surname connections include:
BENJAMIN, HART,  ("Gussie") HUGHES, MARSHALL, MCKELLAR, and WHITE.

Your research source suggestions are appreciated and being researched.
Additionally, I am seeking land deeds, farm/plantation records, various
city directories for the 19th century, and the 1890 US Veterans
Schedules.  Among land plats, death certificates, and other materials, I
have WALLER wills dating back to 1801, as well as the 1925 will of my g
grandfather, Thomas Waller of Ninety-Six, SC.

However, one of the multiciplicity of problems confronting African
American researchers seeking their points of origin is identifying and
documenting their ancestors' slave holders.  The problem is compounded
exponentially by the facts that slave "surnames" changed to that of
successive purchasers; slaves had no official "surnames" until ca. 1863;
and at that time, many chose surnames other than that of their then
current slave holders.

And the quest goes on!

Judith