Mecklenburg research fails when you treat “Charlotte” as a single stable address. Separate three problems: pre-1762 Anson parents, rural church networks, and urban ward/directory moves.

• Sequence: census → city directory → church → newspaper → deed.
• Border: search York County, SC when surnames cluster on the line.
• Library: Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room / Charlotte Mecklenburg Library genealogy services.

Full hub: Mecklenburg County. Neighbors: Gaston, Union, Cabarrus.