Greetings all, especially Lyn (departing) and Pat. Again tracking back on Francis McHale, now known to have arrived in New Zealand, ship Wild Duck sailing from Plymouth, arr. Wellington December, 1866, born Co. Mayo about 1847, father Owen McHale, mother Catherine (O) Reilly. I'm trying now to confirm the hypothesis that 1. Owen was the one listed in Griffiths as householder/landowner in the Cuingmore townland at junction of Loughs Conn and Cullin, civil parish Kilbelfad, RC parish Backs. 2. That Catherine was a member of (O) Reilly clan listed for Lough Conn islands, Annagh, Annaghtiege and Creeve, same parishes, Francis (O) Reilly listed three times - could it be the same one with a plot on each island or three different francises?. 3. If 1. is correct, that this Owen is the father listed for a second Owen McHale, married to Margaret (known as Peggy or Pegeen, father Thomas) Holmes, March 4, 1867. They were married at Lahardane across the pontoon bridge in Adergoole Parish and Peg may have been from Terryduff in that parish. Two children of the marriage, Mary and Owen, were baptised (69 and 76) at Knockmore RC Chapel up the road from Cuingmore, still in Backs RC parish but in Ballynahaglish civil parish (sponsors Michael McHale, twice, Honor Holmes and Mary McHale). Which would make Owen II a brother to Francis in NZ - who named his sons Owen and Francis. And a real wild card: Also seeking any word on a Mary McHale, inmate at Ballina Workhouse in 1848, pauper orphan sent to Melbourne, Australia, aboard Lady Kennaway, first employer a Catherine Brophy, parentage not recorded at the Australian end. Best regards to all seekers. Garry Satherley. --------------------------------- Yahoo!7 Mail has just got even bigger and better with unlimited storage on all webmail accounts. Find out more.