So glad to see this list starting up! Will there be any archiving of posts? I'm sure there will be plenty of connections as time goes on... I'm trying to trace the roots of Michael BOYLE and Ellen HOWE, both of County Clare. Michael BOYLE was born in 1820, emigrated to the US in 1847 through the port of New York, worked on (perhaps) the Barge Canal in N.Y. and (certainly) on the railroad, making his way out to Dubuque County, Iowa, in 1852. In 1853 he bought 160 acres of farmland in Jackson County, Iowa, became a US citizen in 1856, married Ellen HOWE at Sinsinawa Mound, Wis., near Dubuque, in August 1857. They had their first child, also named Michael, soon afterward. They settled on the Jackson County farm (near the village of Garryowen) in 1858 ... and the rest, as they say, is well-known history to me. I grew up on that same farm, Michael was my great-grandfather. Ellen HOWE may have made her way from Ireland along with Michael and various members of her family. She also was living in Dubuque from 1852 to 1858, but a number of her family members apparently settled about 50 miles away in DeWitt, Clinton County, Iowa. There was another Ellen Howe (1770-1876) and a Thomas Howe (1816-1909), apparently related to her. Thomas *may* have been my great-grandmother's brother. Thomas' father was John Howe, according to his death record, and both Thomas and the elder Ellen were born in Miltown, County Clare (apparently referring to Miltown Malbay in Kilfarboy parish). There was also a Charles and Mary Howe (Mary was Mary Murry, born in Miltown to Martin Murry and Elizabeth Egan), who had several children in DeWitt. And there was a James Howe who may have been related. The story is that the Howes worked with Michael Boyle on the railroad, and indeed Thomas' occupation was listed as railroadman. I've hooked up with some Australian descendants of another Howe family from Carrowduff, near Miltown Malbay, and there is most likely some sort of family tie there (many similar given names). Well, this is the story of my search so far ... so now I'm concentrating on parish records for the area surrounding Miltown and hoping to find more Boyles and Howes to trace from there. If you need any help with Boyles (or Howes) from County Clare, particularly West Clare, I'll be glad to do what I can. I have a Griffith's CD and know how to use it. I also have a Web site at http://family.boyle.net where I keep any info I get related to Boyles and Howes in Clare. Someday I hope to get over to the Emerald Isle to pursue this research in person ... maybe next year. Thanks for the list.... Best, Alan ============================================================= Alan and Tonia Boyle -- [email protected] 12412 SE 26th Place, Bellevue, Wash. 98005 tel: 425-957-0219