This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PatBrooks1961 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.may.general/8720.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Mr. Boylan~~ How can I possibly thank you for the research you've put into my query? !!!!! This information means more to me than you can possibly know - I have been intrigued about my Gr. Grandmother's parentage since my early teens and it was my interest in her heritage that spurred my lifelong passion for genealogy. That you went through the trouble to conduct such extensive research free of charge is incredible and I owe you tremendously!! I have little doubt that the the Bridget and Patrick you found are, indeed, my Mary's parents - I know we cannot be absolutely certain but they are, by far, the most likely candidates. I am at a loss as to why Mary's baptism wasn't listed, and it occurred to me that, because they were Catholic and Catholics have several baptismal names, Margaret could actually have been Mary, except that would have made her considerably older than I thought. The only documentation I have of her age, though, if from censuses, and we all know how inaccurate th! ey are regarding age & spelling. As far as Martin Melican, I will have to look further, as he may, indeed, have been from Waterford. The family story is that Mary and Martin met on the ship to America, so they need not have been from the same area in Ireland. It was also commonly believed in the family that he was Scottish, although censuses list his nation of birth as Ireland. The maiden name of his mother, Hapnick, was taken from his death certificate, which was filled out by Mary, his widow, and there is no way to know how accurate that was. Can you think of any surname resembling Hapnick that she may have mistaken it for? Is there anything - anything! - that I can do to repay you for the information you've given?? Thank you again, very very much!! 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.