Folks: I am sorry I can't answer you directly I am swamped with requests, however if you have problems come back to me, other wise follow what is listed here.Here is how to get the best results: Click on to the URl when it comes up look at the TABLE OF CONTENTS. There is a list on the left hand side showing the various Provinces of France where Huguenots are to be found. IF you know your area click on that one. (note so will come up in French, but will have a English box to click on-the whole thing is about 85% English) Once you have clicked on the the area THEN CLICK on the letter Example: I was looking for Charshee, so I clicked on "C" and then I clicked on "CH" which narrows down the list for you. AFTER you have clicked on the province a list on your left will pop up, its mostly in French, however there should be one or more items HIGHLIGHTED, click on the first one and take it from there. Once you get the format down pat you can sail thru France fast I went thru 2/3 of t! hat entire list in less than two hours. You will find a few that are not on the web as yet, but they will tell you that. NOTE be sure to use all variations of the name you are looking for in my case Charshee, Charsha, Charshe. Good Hunting! Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Burke To: gordon crooks Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 7:02 PM Subject: Re: French Huguenots Hello Mr. Crooks: It's very interesting. Black's Surnames of Scotland has separate listings for Crook and Crookston. The entry for Crookston merely states the following: "A very rare surname if still extant. Local, from Crookston in Renfrewshire. See under Croc. The entry for Crook states the following: "From Croc, q.v., Malcolm Crok rendered homage in 1296. Robert Cruk of Fingaldestone, Lanarkshire also rendered homage. A benefice was reserved to Adam Croke of the diocese of St. Andrew, 1329. John Cruke was a tenant in Garvalde under the Douglas, 1376. Galfrid Crok held land in the burgh of Crale in 1421. John Cruik was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1503. Payment was made to a 'menstrale' named John Cruke in 1529 and Peter Croche was witness in Glasgow, 1559." (I've left out the citations to the individual sources for ease of typing) There is a longer reference for the surname Croc: "Croc or Krok, a personal name whose form throws no light whatever on its being either ON. or OE. Robert Croc, a retainer or vassal of Walter the first High Steeward, probably accompanied him for Shropshire where the name of Croc obtained. He usually occurs along with the High Steward of whom he held his lands afterward called Crookston, and others in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. Between 1165-1173, he witnessed a grant of lands to the church of Paisley and about 1177 witnessed a charter by Eschina, wife of the High Steward. In 1180 he received permission to build a chapel for the use of his own family and between 1189-99 he witnessed the gift by Helias filius Fulberti of the church of Mernes to the monks of Paisley. He also gave the patronage of the church of Neilston to the same monks for the salvation of his soul, and was one of the perambulators of the boundaries of Moniabroc in Stragrif c. 1202. His seal appended to a ! charter of the lands of Hungerig to Simon Lindsay, c1200, bears three shepherds' crooks contourne. Walter Croc, son of Robert Croc, is a charter witness c. 1203. Alan Croc and Simon Croc are charter witnesses about 1225. Symone Croc witnessed a quitclaim in 1244 and the gift of an annuity of ten marks to Arbroath Abbey by Alexander II in 1247. Thomas Crok attested a confirmation by Alexander filius Walteri of his father's gifts to the church of Paisley, 1239, and as Thomas Croch appears as a charter witness at Forfar, 1251. Robert Cruoc was juror on an inquisition on the lands of Hopkelchoc in 1259, and in 1262 was charged with having molested burgesses of Peebles in leading their peats from the moss in Walthamshope, etc. With Sir Thomas Croc the direct line of the Crocs seems to have failed about the close of the thirteenth century." (Once again, I've left out the source citations for ease of typing). I hope this helps. If you would like to get photocopies of the pages from Black's Surnames of Scotland, just let me know your address and we will copy them and send them on to you. Best wishes, Bob Burke gordon crooks wrote: Mr. Burke: Thank you for all the info on French Huguenots, I was right to think Normandy as the principal area and this is the area that Robert Croc (Crooks) came from. I have just one more question for you and will leave you in peace. Robert Croc came over from Normandy in 1138 and claimed his patent in Scotland and changed his name to Crooks. He built a wooden stockade which he called "Crookston" later generations re-built it into a stone castle of which part still stand today. The question I have been contacted by people whose surname is Crookston saying that we are of the same line. My QUESTION is what does Dr. george Black's book " The surnames of Scotland" have to say on the subject. Is Crook and Crookston listed together or separetly or what?? Gordon Crooks ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Burke To: gordon crooks Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 7:38 PM Subject: Re: French Huguenots Hello Mr. Crooks: I have attached a list of books dealing with the history of French Huguenots. The second attachment lists some useful websites. The Huguenots of France and Elsewhere website at http://huguenots-france.org/english.htm is particularly interesting. Among other things, it offers a list of towns that were particularly significant in terms of Huguenot history. These towns include Autretot, Basly, Bolbec, Bresse, Buncey, Chateauneuf de Vernoux, Desaignes, Dieppe, Dieulefit, Gilhoc, La Rochelle, Le Havre, Lillebonne, Luneray, Lyon, Mialet, Mulhouse, Oberbronn, Pont-de-Veyle, Reyssouze, Saint-Antonin Noble-Val, Sancerre, Tours, and Vernoux. I hope this information helps. If you have problems accessing the attached documents, please let me know and I will find a way to simply cut and paste them into the body of a regular email. Thanks again for using our services, Bob Burke Social Science and History Department Enoch Pratt Free Library gordon crooks wrote: Mr. Burke: On my Mothers side of the family the name was Charshee. This is a Huguenot name, various references mention two places in France as being the home of the Huguenots one is the Normandy area and the other is Alsace area, so what we are trying to do is pinpoint the actual area if possible, and then try and trace them back. My late aunt Ann Charshee actually visited France after the 2nd WW and found living relatives unfortunately she left no written records of this. I would also be interested in any book that you might have on the subject. While I have you here when researching in your Md. room this past Summer I asked one of your people for help in locating 'S. Milford Hundred" whose description was used in the 1790 census, he could fine no reference to this or any other hundred.. I finally located it and its where the present Elkton, Cecil, Co. is located and it was considered a tax and political desination, I am surprised that you had nothing on the subject. Gordon Crooks ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Burke" <rburke@mail.epfl.net> To: <glcrooks@bcpl.net> Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2004 3:27 PM Subject: Re: French Huguenots Hello Mr. Crooks: Thank you very much for your recent question regarding French Huguenots. I just wanted to let you know that we have received your question here in the Social Science and History Department and will get underway with researching it. We would like to clarify your request if we might. When you asked the question regarding which area is known for its Huguenot population, were you asking for areas in France or for where the Huguenots settled in North America? Also, are you looking for general books about the French Huguenots that you can borrow? Thank you very much, Bob Burke, Social Science and History Department Enoch Pratt Free Library