Following on from Sunday Musings, here's my example of the emigration pattern referred to: Alexander HUNTER born Palester Arran 10 April 1806 to John HUNTER and Mary McKELVIE, and Margaret HAMILTON born Blarbeg 9 January 1809 to Peter HAMILTON and Catherine SHAW, were married in Ardrossan, Ayrshire on 12 November 1831. Their first six children up to 1843 were born in Saltcoats - either Green Street (1837 directory) or Dockhead Street where they were found in 1841, but the remaining four were born in Kilbride Parish back on Arran - living at Invercloy, Brodick from 1851 onwards. Their second daughter Catherine was originally presumed to have died before 1841, until a Catherine of the right age was found with her HUNTER grandparents on Arran. There are records of the birth of two Margaret HUNTERs, the first (3rd daughter) on 12 February 1838, but missing from the 1841 Census, and the second (fifth daughter) on Arran in 1847. As the fourth daughter was named Isabella and aged one in 1841, the death of Margaret (1) can probably be limited to the period between Isaballa's birth and the Census, and almost certainly had a direct impact on the family's decision to return to Arran a couple of years later. regards Peter Cook Rossmoyne Western Australia [email protected] http://users.bigpond.com/cookfmly/ or http://cookfmly.rootsweb.com/ for other research names List owner of the ButeshireGenWeb mailing list.