In a message dated 5/8/2000 9:10:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time, jdbs@uslink.net writes: << Elise REEVES, the wife of Dr. DeMARS, is the daughter of Narcisse REEVES and Sophie BRUNELLE. >> Hi, Jerriann! I am suspicious of the surname REEVES as not being of French derivation. Maybe that's why you are not finding it. REEVES is actually a form of an old Gaelic name, in Irish O'Rimheadha (O'Rive). As such, this name is just about extinct. The many REEVES families still to be found in Ireland are of English origin, some of whom have been in Ireland since the 17th century. In England, REEVES is an occupational name denoting some special kind of clerk (not sure what - will look this up). Of course, in Welsh the name REES or RHYS is common. What I'm really saying, I guess, is that Pere Narcisse may have taken on the REEVES spelling as an easy out, instead of trying to get English-speaking-listeners to say his French name correctly. We all know how often that happened! My name GUERTIN is often found as GERTEN, GORDON, and even YETTAW (don't ask me how they got that one!). I know of some MORINs who up and changed their name to MURRAY about the time you speak of. Did you try the variant pages of the PRDH? Maybe nothing - but it's worth a look - both with REEVES as so-called "standard name" and as a variant. Of course, that only takes you to 1799 - but you might find some clues. I love these puzzles! Ginny List Admin - ILSTANNE-L VCrawf@aol.com