This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jjcaffrey Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/7360.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: It's very possible the fudging was done by someone else. In the case of William, if he spent so much time at sea, whomever provided the information for the census may have thought he was born in Ireland instead of Scotland. I haven't found John in NY, but it could be the same explanation. It's possible that John didn't know where his father was born, although why he would say MA instead of England or the others is curious. Or perhaps he was paying a game for naturalization to become a citizen. Can you post a link to John in NY in 1910? Also, you hint at John being your grandfather. Is that so, or is just that you have a birth certificate of John? John ps - minor point... the 1891 Census I looked at doesn't list William at sea. It just shows Elin/Glin as a Housekeeper. 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.