Hi, Very likely they asked your gggrandfather where he was born, which was most probably Ireland. I know that sometimes with the movement of different peoples as groups, it is sometimes hard to follow through on the leads. I am trying to locate if one line that I am working could be Palatine, as he was born in Limerick Co., Ireland about 1784, which fits the Palatine movement. (Ransbury) It is hard to tell at this time until I find some type of record. Anne