This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: gkcarson Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.carson/1364.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Patty, My Carson line arrived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania or nearby 1740s from N Ireland, most likely County Down. The most likely parish for my Carson origin (1720s or prior) I've found is Ballyphilip (town of Portaferry) and maybe Ballyatwood, Ballyculter and Ballyvester(sic). A William Carson was curate in Ballyculter 1730, son of Robert Carson gentleman of County Down. William Carson was educated by Mr. Robert Hannah (the Carson and Hannah families intermarried in VA 1750s). Slanes Graveyard in Ballyphilip parish (Church of Ireland) contains the graves of Rachel Carson b 1679 d 1766 and husband John McComb and his parents Alexander McComb 1644-1724 and mother Mary Maxwell 1650-1693. Donaghadee Graveyard - Ballyvester (County Down) contains graves of William Carson 1783-1835, wife Elizabeth, James Carson 1792-1877 (wife Elizabeth) and their son Robert Carson. The Catherwood surname connects somehow, and there were some Hannah surnames in that area too. Around 1700 in that area, some Hanna/Hannah lineages were Presbyterian (Scots) and some were Irish Catholic. All of the Carson lineages I've found were Presbyterian (Scots). Some connecting surnames in PA were also in First Presbyterian Killyleagh parish records (County Down)1700-1730. Those surnames included Strain/Strean, Hannah, Woods, Stevenson/Stephenson, and Ritchey. There was also a cluster of Carson and related names in Belfast Second Presbyterian records 1680s-1730s that show up in PA together (intermarrying). Do you know of any male Carson descendants in County Down (or with a paper trail originating there)? I'd like to find a living male Carson descending from one of these County Down lineages to do a YDNA test to see if the results match with my Carson line. Thanks, Gary Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.