Hello Jan, Thanks for your information. Remote or not I want every little bit that I can find! I have most of the close line and am now working on the more distant connections. I have found that a lot of people are researching their own line but stop when they get to SMITH. I am trying to draw the various lines of this huge family together. Our Catherine SMITH was supposed to have arrived per "Thames" 1826 with her mother and sister, but I have'nt come across any mention of Wales before, interesting. Another line of research ahead of me. I wonder where that information came from? I have Celia LEHNEY m 1878 John AHERN in Sydney. Children William b1878 Percival J.b1880 Mary S.K. b 1886 m. Sydney DUNDAS James A. b1890 Myrtle I. b1892 Are the pioneers books still available to buy? If so where can I get them? Thanks again. Helen ````````````````` >Hi Helen, > >My connection to your family is extremely vague indeed! > > >If I have it correct then ....... > >- William & Mary Smith (nee McGuire) - their daughter >- Catherine Smith (c.1809-1878) married c.1727 to William Ahern > - their son >- John Ahern (1847-1925) married 1878 to Celia/Selina Leheny > /Laheney/Leahney >- Celia/Selina’s brother >- Henry (Harry) Leahney/Laheny married 1894 to Isabella Neaves > (1862-1937) - Isabella was my GG aunt > >All very remote and of probably no interest to you but I was >interested to see that you mention William and Mary’s children all >being born in Ireland - “Illawarra Pioneers pre 1920” says that >Catherine Smith was born in Monmouthshire, Wales and arrived >11/4/1826 per “Thames” - do you know if we are talking the >same Catherine Smith? > >Kind regards, >Jan McElroy, >Randwick, NSW > >