Bill I hate to say this, but realistic travel distance, even so far back, was much bigger than you might think. It was not unknown for people with wares to sell to walk the 50 miles to London (forget where it was but the trip was 50 miles). If he was a drover they went all over and if wealthy they would travel to kin folk all over (stay for months *G*) and then back home. They were much more mobile than we might think. You have a sailor? if so, realistic is all over the Island On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 11:16 AM, bill waathen <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Josephine, > > Thank you for your information. It's a big help. In terms of "whittling > down" areas where my John may have come from, I'm looking at Glousc., > Heref., and Wales, at least for the short term. Here's my thought > process.....given how recruitment was done for indentures during the period, > mostly word of mouth, John must have been within a realistic travel distance > from Bristol, from where he departed on the "Francis and Mary" in 1670. I > doubt if the family has any Irish or Scottish roots. Can you tell me this: > How strong was the Roman Catholic faith in these areas following the English > Civil War? The Colony of Maryland, charted in 1634 by the Lords Baltimore > (Baltemore), were of the Catholic faith, even tho' their soveriegn, King > James, was of the Church of England. Apparently the Lords Baltimore > (CALVERT family), had a positive relationship with good King James and were > therefore granted the charter. An interesting sidebar to the story is that > the Charter of Maryland was the second of such; the first one being granted > in what is now Newfoundland. The early settlers in Newf. called their > colony "Avalon." However, the climate in "Avalon" was too harsh for growing > crops, etc., so the venture was abandoned. A few years later, the Charter > of Maryland was granted. There were two ships that landed at St. Clement's > Island, Maryland, in the fall of 1634, the "Ark" and the "Dove." Most of > those on board were of the Catholic faith, including a priest to bless the > newly arrived location. Altho' the colony was established primarily for > Catholics trying to escape the wrath of the Church of England, those of > other faiths were also welcome in the new colony. "John the Immigrant", my > direct ancestor, was of the Catholic faith and that religious tradition has > carried on to the present day. This Catholic tradition is important to me > in my efforts to trace John's roots. John's "agent" the one who brought > John to these shores, was a Hugh THOMAS, believed to be from Llanmadoc(g), > Gla., Wales. That area remained strong Catholic even after the Civil War. > If I could find a Roman Catholic Records Repository in the U.K., I might be > able to find out more about John. > > And so it continues, > > Bill