Hi Tamara, A lovely and unusual name, is Tamara. Where do I start with this reply? I think my best advice is, for you to contact a cousin of my husband: Morris Rathwell, 9, Deer Haven Rd., Arundel, PQ. JOT 1AO He has written a book about the Rathwell Family History, in that area, and has some info about the distant past. Our first Rathwell came to the Gore district PQ. in 1831 from Kilkenny Ire. I believe he was a Charles - 1780-1846, and m. a Sarah Kilfoyle 1800-1868; The other ancestor's were: Hance McCullough,1803-1882 who m. Mary Roony 1850's: The story goes that Hance and Mary, fled Ire, on a ship and were married by the captain, religious differences we believe. He writes: "The Rathwells moved from Margate, Kent County in England, to Wexford County in Ireland. They then moved to Prospect House, Kilkenny County. Their home was 8 miles from Carlow and 10 miles from Kilkenny which places them almost on the border of Carlow. Carlow was one of the most rebellious counties in all of ireland at this time. In the 1820's and especially in the 1830's there was a huge exodus of Protestants and in particular Anglicans, to America." The family down East remained Rathwell, My father in law, after coming west and finally staying here, changed the A to O, and all of the kids are now RO. I could find no RA in Kent in the past year, and none in Ireland where I looked either, but did find some RO in Kent and a few RO births in part of Ire. Arnold Irvine, wrote to me several years ago about our RO line, but haven't heard from him again. There is a Kathleen Morrison, in Montreal, who was a wealth of information, but she has not been well of late and has been admitted to hospital just a couple of weeks ago, so can't say what will happen with her now. She is 95. Here are some UK sites you might try for info. ."IRELAND-L@rootsweb.com" If this address doesn't work, look into WWW. Genuki.com. where you will find several Ire addresses to question. They are very helpful sometimes if they know. Irish Mom <Romilly@attbi.com> (for ire) "KILKENNY-L@rootsweb.com" "Isle-of-Thanet-L@rootsweb.com" (for Kent, Margate in on this Isle) These sites in the UK I find very helpful, you will find people who will answer your query, much later, after thinking about it, with all kinds of info. Meet lots of great folks too, even if they don't know anything. I have some info about an Archbishop William De. Rothwell in Norhthamptonshire also. Still have to research him to see if he had any descendants. Didn't give you much help, just a lot of suggested work I'm afraid. Happy Hunting, Dorothy Rothwell, Box 208, Moosomin, SK, SOG 3NO