Jim. Thanks for posting the photo. Your prowess at the forum is far greater than mine.

Sorry for the mistake. Yes the tie bears the rafter directly.

So I take it this method is a bit out of the norm, ay? I'm curious because I've been to over 20 barns here in the area and only 3 have this method of bent construction. All others have long top plates regardless of rafter system. In your opinion, is it an old english carry-over, or just different?