This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: gbell152 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.mor.general/2313.1.1.1.2.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: "... A person could acquire settlement in a parish either by being born there, or being the wife of a man born there, or by living there continuously for the prescribed number of years (five, I think it was)." The period of time was three years, but one rather unpleasant effect of the rules was that it was quite possible to end up with no settlement anywhere. If you moved around, following work, but not staying in any one parish continuously for three years, then the situation could arise that no parish would admit responsibility for you. This happened to an ancestor of mine. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.