Thanks for the reply Jane.  This is very interesting, as after a half decade or so in Mass (and it seems, R.I.), my 2Greats grandfather was a miner in New Diggings, Wisconsin.  That was in the lead mining region and many Beara people settled there in the 1850's.  So your info re. miners in Portsmouth, R.I., along with Fall River having the most Beara immigrants, are great tip-offs.   Interestingly, through my recent Ancestry.com DNA testing I have found a match where the apparent connection is through our common line from Beara, and her line were solidly estbalished in Newport, R.I.by the mid 1800's.   Thanks again Jane. Jerry    ________________________________ From: Jane Sullivan <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, March 15, 2013 7:28:51 PM Subject: Re: [BEARA] Massachusetts and Rhode Island Beara settlers Jerrold, There were some miners in Portsmouth , RI as early as 1850.They came from the Beara peninsula .Portsmouth is very close to Newport, RI and Fall River, Mass. also. Generally, Fall River had the most Beara immigrants because of the availability of work in the textile industry.Jane Sullivan ________________________________ From: Jerrold Brosious <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 7:32 PM Subject: [BEARA] Massachusetts and Rhode Island Beara settlers Hello to the Beara List.  The recent postings of Beara surnames from the 1853 Fall River, Massachusetts directory has inspired me to try to make some progress on my ancestors in that state as well as possibly in Rhode Island.   I'll save the specifics of my query for a separate posting but for here have a general question.  My great-great-grandfather and at least two siblings (brothers) were in Massachusetts by around 1849-1852.   His first child was born around 1852 in Massachusetts and the second child born around 1854 was possibly born in Rhode Island.  I have no specific place names and the family left "the east" and settled in Wisconsin by 1856. Does anyone have thoughts as to where Beara people in thi searly 1850's era first in Mass. may have lived if they then moved to R.I.?  Looking at a map,  Fall River looks like a great candidate as Providence and Newport are not far from FR.  Another angle to this is to ask,  was there a particular city/region where most Beara folk settled ca 1850?  I'll appreciate any thoughts you may have. Jerry Brosious, Minneapolis, Minnesota ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message