Hello Rebecca, If you are inclined to take a vacation in Ireland then do so. From past experience, unless you have more than a name and a general birth date you have very little hope of finding William's records in Ireland. Is there a death certificate for him? Many times parents names are included and sometimes the place of birth. In some cases naming patterns were used. William's oldest son would be named for his father, Oldest daughter for his wife's mother. Second daughter for William's mother, Second son for his wife's father.. Remember be like a bloodhound, never give up the scent. Joe Boyd Williams SRT Sons of the Republic of Texas Founder House of Boyd Society Calhoun County, Texas Historical Commission Cape Carancahua, Texas Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words 'The' and 'IRS' together it spells 'Theirs...'