In response to the often asked "what does this nickname go to" etc questions that show up on lists, here is a suggestion given to me when I first started.... and if you are even halfway serious about genealogy you will need this eventually..... Buy a good, Baby name book. One that gives you meanings and nicknames. I bought this book for 3.95 years ago at some bookstore like Waldenbooks... there are others and I don't even know if this particular one is in print or not... but get one that includes nicknames and national variations Name Your Baby: origins, meanings, nicknames, famous namesakes by Lareina Rule isbn 0-553-27145-8 Having this book handy will allow you to get your answers from the book instead of asking lists (as those discussions tend to gravitate into "my family did this with the name" etc). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Maura Petzolt mpetzolt2@webtv.net <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> SHAMROCK ROOTS homepage http://community.webtv.net/shamrockroots/SHAMROCKROOTS Helpful Hints for Successful Searching http://community.webtv.net/mpetzolt2/helpfulhints

You Often Read Or Hear That Irish Research Is Impossible.BeacAuse "All Irish Records Were Destroyed " This Is A Common Over Simplification Of What Has Happened To Irish Records. It Is True Of Course Some Records Were Burnt In The Civil War In Ireland In 1922. The Public Records Office In Dublin "Four Courts" Did Have A Fire And Irish Records Were Lost. It Of Course Changed The Course Of Irish Research Forever The Major Loss Of The 1821-1851 Census Was A Mighty Blow For All Those Tracing Ancestors Within Ireland. Other Records Lost Were Pre 1858 Wills And Half Of The Parish Records For The Church Of Ireland. But One Must Remember That There Is A Difference Between Searching For An Irish Protestant And Irish Catholic Records. The Free Holders List Will Not Show A Catholic Before 1793 But Many Protestants Are Listed. High On Anyones List If They Are Looking For Protestants Should Be The Registry Of Deeds Followed By Wills And Administration But Of Course Not All Families Will Show There Were Poor Protestants As Well As Rich. One "Elite " Rule To Remember Is The More Prominent The Person The More Was Written Or Recorded On Them. Not All Catholics Were Poor And Landless- There Seems To Be Fewer Surviving Catholic Records Than Protestant. While John Grenhams' Book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Second Edition Comes Highly Recommended I Myself Find That The Book Co Written By Maire Mac Conghail And Paul Gorry "Tracing Your Irish Ancestors" Well Written And Explanatory It Comes In A Pocket Size Book And Is Well Worth The Outlay It Is Available From Harpers Collins Publisher Cheers Cara