This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SeC.2ACI/393.406.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi Robert I've got your messages, through this site and also Genforum, but I will need to study them more carefully. I'm afraid if there is an earlier connection to Ireland than my great grandfather John, and his brother Archibald, I haven't come across it before. However, I've never been able to explain why they came to Ireland, and what you say may make sense. My theory was that the Hamiltons (Earl of Arran) had estates in the West of Ireland, and perhaps they received some incentive to move here to work on his estate here. I'd be delighted to receive anything you have, and my email is marymcg@kellysol.ie. I think I have a family tree on disk that might be formatted better than the one on the Genforum site, so it would be easier to read. If you give me your email address I'll dig it out and send it to you. Mary