Hello Listers- I am still trying to verify the names of the parents of my gr gr grandfather, ALEXANDER ORR MCGOWAN. He was born in 1812, in either Ballykeel or Ballyhalbert, Comber Parish, Co Down.. His biography states that he was raised by his paternal grandfather, with his father being an invalid for the past 13 yrs. No mention is made of his mother in the biography. He was a teacher in the National School in 1833, at Tullygirven, (known as ORR MCGOWAN there) and is listed on pg. 34 in the Comber Parish chapter of the "Ordnance Survey of Ireland, Parishes of County Down II 1832-4,1837, No. Down & the Ards." In 1843 he moved to Dunmurry, Co Antrim, along with his wife, (MARGARET MCKITTRICK, daughter of ADAM MCKITRICK AND MARGARET ORR) who was the first teacher for girls at the National School there as well. She was also the Postmistress there. They emigrated with their 3 children to the US in 1850, eventually settling in Warren Township, Wisconsin. In regards to this search, a kind researcher checked his database in the "Ulster Pedigree-the Many Descendants of James Orr", and came up with a possible match - David McGowan of Crossnacreevy and Eleanor Orr of Ballykeel. Their children are listed as Mary, James, Alexander and William. No dates are given here, but the area, family names and townlands are right on. David McGowan is also listed as being "rebuked" by the Presbyterian Kirk Session, no date or reason given. He and Eleanor were part of the Moneyrea Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church. Another researcher told me that Eleanor is listed in an old area newsletter obit, saying she was born in 1784 and died Nov 30th, 1844, at the age of 60, and had been married to the late David McGowan of Crossnacreevy. He evidently died before 1844 - and this time period of the earlier death, matches the family biography time line. If anyone can help me dig further in my search, or give some suggestions, it would greatly be appreciated! I will enclose a link to the family biography, written by his oldest son, Robert James Orr McGowan. http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiwausha/aomcgowan.html Thank you for taking the time to read this! Pat McGowan Bartos patmcb56@sbcglobal.net