For census lookups here in the US. some rather loose rules have been laid out, which, if followed, seem to eliminate reading many, many inquiries that are of no concern. ("census lookup" with nothing else is automatically deleted !!!!!) It has been suggested that we use the following format for lookup requests: (County)(year)(Surname) ---- on the PA list it would look like this: Berks/1866/Smith. On the N. Ireland list it might look like this: Tyrone/1850/Dougherty. County, townland, parish, etc., the year and the surname clarifies a great deal for me. I just don't have time to read all the ambiguous "subjects" --- if it's not spelled out, I delete --- plain and simple. And who knows what wonderful things I have missed out on with my itchy delete finger?? <g> Just a friendly suggestion, folks Dori - (in So. Calif) Beannachthai agus Siochain