Hello cousins, I have not been a member of the DODSON rootsweb long but have read that the name DOBSON was changed upon arriving in America. I don't know if this is true because I am having difficulty tracing the DOBSON name. BUT...I went to the FHC here in PA the other day and found a book titled, "Irish Passenger Lists 1847-1871" by Brian Mitchell copyrighted 1988. I don't know how reliable this book is but it had the following listing: "Sailing from Londonderry to America on the ships on the J&J Cooke Line and the McCorkell Line." On the Lord Maidstone in 1848 to St. John was Barbara Dobson aged 2, Eliza aged 10, Margaret aged 8, and John aged 6. Any one know where St. John is? In another book, "Passengers From Ireland - Lists of Passengers arriving at American Ports Between 1811 & 1817" by Donald M. Schlegel. On the ship "George", Captain Craig, 56 days from Belfast, arrived at New York on Oct. 14, 1815. James Dobson, Susan Dobson, John Dobson, William Dobson, Mary Dobson, and Fannie Dobson Also one other book found was, "The Surnames of Ireland" by Edward MacLysaght. Shannon, Ireland. page 73 says that the Dobson name was fairly numerous in Co.Leitrim. What is Co. Leitrim? A county? My husbands family is said to be from Maryland but I have no info on that as his mother divorced when he was a child and no one seems to know anything. His father is still alive in MD but he is not mentally well so no help there. So all we have is his fathers name. Where can I start? Can I get his fathers birth certificate since he is still alive? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Diane