Hi Jean I was particularly interested to read your family history as it ties in with a bit of a "stone wall" that I have been hitting for a while. In the early part of the 19th century a whole bunch of IPs left the Killeheen/Kilfinnane area with no known record of their destination, amongst them some of my Family Group. Last year I discovered a family group called LEGEER (slightly different spelling)historically centred on Allegany Co, Maryland. Their origin was Ireland in the early 19th century and although I am 99% sure that this is my "missing group" I have been unable to make the final 1% connection. Their descendants still live in the area but I've also been unable to make contact with them. Some of the names you mention are also familiar to my researches as are others common to the IP list. As for English being the language of the US, I understand that the decision for English to become the official language was decided by only ONE vote over German. I'm reminded of the wry humour in the following definition - "The United States and Great Britain are two nations separated by a common language!" Language, of course, is probably one of the most interesting problems that cause us on the IP list some measure of bewilderment in our researches. Our 1709 ancestors were German speakers and landed in a country where the common language was Irish Gaelic, but the official language was English. Many of our IP ancestors would have been illiterate (I notice from the Rathkeale No 2 school register that there are only LeGear girls listed! The boys probably having more important things to do). Small wonder, then, that there are differences in spelling and records that confuse and confound us today!! Chris Le Gear >From: "A.J Corwin" <[email protected]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [IP] Great IP Group >Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 05:15:03 +0000 > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp