I am really interesed in Jean McCarthy's message to the list. I also am interested in the surname HAWTHORNE. My gr-gr-grandmother was Sarah Elizabeth Hawthorne, supposedly from County Down, who married William John Meharg from Rathfriland, County Down in about 1827/28. They had a family of 9 children and emigrated to Canada in about 1844. Early in teh 1840s William John/John William was working as a shipping clerk/bookkeeper at the port of Belfast. I have never been able to find out ANYTHING about these two families (MEHARG and HAWTHORNE) before their marriage date. According to the Canadian census Elizabeth, as she was called, was born abt 1810, and WJ Meharg we figure about 1800. Does anybody have any inkling of information about them? I would even like to know if anyone has knowledged of any other Mehargs/Hawthornes in the Rathfriland or Hillsborough area then - or today. Maybe if I can find some present Mehargs with old ties to that area we can figure something out. Much appreciated Carol (Meharg) Morrow Cloyne, Ontario, Canada

> > > I would even like to know if anyone has knowledged of any other Mehargs/Hawthornes > According to Maclysaght's, The Surnames of Ireland: MEHARG A variant spelling of Maharg. See MacIlhagga MAC ILHAGGA Mac Giolla Chairge. This Gaelic form is given by Mac Giolla Domhnaigh. A Scottish name found in Cos. Antrim and Derry. MacElhargy, MacIlhargy and Maharg are variants of it. Checking the Griffith's Valuation on Origins Network, I found 33 MEGARG's, 19 in County Down. There were 119 Hawthorne's in County Down at the same time. You might want to check John Hayes' website. He has the GV index and you might be able to see if any Mehargs and Hawthornes are from the same Civil Parish and then that might be a place to start your search for church records. http://www.failteromhat.com/down.htm The Ulster Historical Foundation has all available church records on file for County Down and indexed. You can check out their website at: http://www.irish-roots.net/AntmDown.htm -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus