Hello Chris, I have read over your letter again, wondering what you need [brick wall] help in that perhaps I can help you with. I am not sure where you are from. But to explain the geography of this area the Maryland, Allegany Co. - Garrett Co. Md.- Somerset Co. Pa. Fayette Co. Pa. and of West Virginia, this tri Co and tri state area is perhaps only a little over a 100 mile area so that is where a family can be in another state and only 10 miles from uncles, brothers etc. That is how these Stark's and then on the census my great grandfather had his name spelled Stark and Starkey and I have seen it Starke. We have a group of "cousins" that seem to be banding together on this end and comparing notes. Would be happy to include you also if you think your family joins ours. Have Peter Stark, Ruckle/Ruttle, Custer, Friends, Isabelle Custer married Daniel Switzer ,Fitzelle, Loar/Lohr Slabaugh Sybert/Seibert, Bittinger,. The list goes on and on of course. It amazes me as how far these people have gone and yet held to the bond of the group. What must have been awful is when you have had families go to U.S.-Canada-Australia-New Zealand of course Enland and those that stayed in Ireland No wonder you have heard that they gave a wake to those that left. Makes sense and they probably never were to see each other again. I miss my family so much if a couple months go by without hearing from them let alone not to see them again. I live in Greene Co. Pa. about 45-50 miles from Garrett Co. MD Allegany Co. MD. Jean Stark Corwin >From: "Christopher Le Gear" <[email protected]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [IP] Great IP Group >Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 09:55:46 +0000 > >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 > > >==== IRL-PALATINE Mailing List ==== >You cant plough a field merely by turning it over in your mind. > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp