I have been totally unsuccessful over the last 3 years in finding the origins of my Famine Era Irish Immigrants to Lafayette County Missouri. Stretching my imagination I've been looking for kin through sponsors to Catholic baptisms. Recently I've found a family, Michael McINTYRE/McENTIRE and Mary HERSON/HURSON that came from Columbkile (sp?) Co Mayo that may be related to the HUGHES of Lafayette Co. There are four HUGHES in the county during the late 1850's through 1880's. I'm looking for any connections of the following that might have sent kin to Missouri: Anna b: ~ 1834 parents: John HUGHES and Ann/Ellen BLEE?/BLUET?/BLACK? John b: ~1824 parents: John HUGHES and Mary HUGHES Patrick b: ~1825 parents: unknown James b: 1836 parents: James HUGHES and Brigid QUIGLEY/CRIGLEY Patrick may have come into the country by about 1845. James came in about 1850 and I am uncertain regarding the rest. Also, any suggestions on how to proceed to pursue these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help. Michael Brown Irvine, CA

BikenMike@aol.com wrote: >[..] Stretching my >imagination I've been looking for kin through sponsors to Catholic baptisms. >[..] NOT a stretch...just a useful research technique and best practice in general. I strongly recommend that you keep an eye on the names of the officiating priests, as well. Clergy are often easier to track than families; and where the priests go, the congregation may follow. The clergy themselves might turn out to be your relatives, as I found in my case. >Anna b: ~ 1834 parents: John HUGHES and Ann/Ellen BLEE?/BLUET?/BLACK? >John b: ~1824 parents: John HUGHES and Mary HUGHES >Patrick b: ~1825 parents: unknown >James b: 1836 parents: James HUGHES and Brigid QUIGLEY/CRIGLEY > >Patrick may have come into the country by about 1845. James came in about >1850 and I am uncertain regarding the rest. Did any of these men serve in the Civil War? James especially is the right age, and Missouri folk had very strong ties to both sides of the conflict. I made my connection to County Longford when I found a Civil War pension application. My gg-grandmother filed an affadavit stating that she was married in County Longford by Rev Radigan, then abandoned by her husband in the US. She depended on her sons for support, and received a pension for the one who was killed. Good luck! Judith Haller jhaller@io.com