This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: LynWhelan51 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.lex.general/2678.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Many thanks for this direction. The key sticking point in this is that I have done all the research I possibly can on these people to this point. The primary records I have simply state "Queens County" on Martin Whelan's children's birth certs and his own death and marriage certificate of - no additional information! I have the names of his parents William Whelan and Winifred Kelly- from his death and marriage certificate - nothing more - and do know that he had 2 siblings - nothing more. The problem arises primarily as the detail provided is broad - no one has been able to find Martin Whelan on shipping lists into NZ - either from foreign ports or via Australia and no documentation indicates which town or townland he was from in County Laois. Given that I have seen up to almost 5000 Whelan's in one area when I looked on one website - the possibliities seem exhausting. What I would like is for the name of some capable honest researcher that I could commission to do this for me - as I am not able to a! dvance further given my geographical position. Your suggestions a helpful and some of them I had explored. I thank you for taking the time to respond. Anyhow I will press on somehow. Lyn 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.