Hi, Di - ><<(Did I once hear there was a connection between Palatine IL and Palatine >Bridge, in New York State?) I get muddled up, is this Irish Palatines or >New York Palatines? From Di Mitchell>> Don't know about a connection between the IL city and the NYS city, but the latter is definitely related to Palatines, although more German Palatine than our IPs. When the first migration wave came over to the New World, many Palatine families settled along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. Those were the practical places to set up housekeeping, as travel was accomplished largely on the waterways. Also, the Crown was delighted to have the Palatines establish settlements between the older more heavily populated areas such as Albany, and the wild frontier of western NY and on. The Indians were a constant threat out that way, and the Palatines were a convenient "buffer". Another threat in the eyes of the Crown were the French, who very much wanted to claim upstate NY. Later on in that century, the French and English had a major disagreement (aka the Seven Years' War or French & Indian War) over ownership of the area. ><<I LOVE this site, but it's beginning to confuse me!>> About what are you confused, Di? ><< I've been thinking for a long time that we need two lists - one for >straight genealogy, and one for general Irish Palatine history interest.>> This list is open to discussion of all things pertaining to IP history and genealogy and assorted tangential topics as well, so one list does the job very nicely. Anything IP (well, okay, within reason <g>) is welcome here. We're a right tolerant group... All the best, Susan SLWillig [email protected] List Tender for: NY-WarWashSar; Sullivan Co., NH; Addison Co., VT; IRL-Palatine and surnames lists; L.aursen, G.arfield, E.mpey