In a message dated 99-05-20 21:35:01 EDT, [email protected] writes: << Hello Charles, Thanks for that bit of history! Coincidentally my Breakey ancestors played a significant role in the development of the linen industry in Ireland. All the Greenvale Mills in the early 18th century were built by Isaiah Breakey b 1688 of Ballybay, Co. Monaghan. Isaiah and his brother Obadiah b 1692 also bleached linen. Thomas C Breakey (1834-1914) states in his memoirs: "It can be honestly be said our Huguenot ancestors brought the knowledge of manufacturing and bleaching linen to this country." >> ======================================================= This interest in linnen was also found in the colonies. I recently found the following entry in Somerset County Maryland Judicial Records: JUNE COURT 1737 "Ordered by the Court that James Strawbridge be allowed and have an order on the Sheriffe of Somerset County for four pounds current money of Maryland he producing here in Court the second best piece of linnen according to act of assembly in such case made and provided." (Mary Slingo produced the "first best" piece -5 pounds; Capt Edmund Round took 3rd - 3 pounds ) The linnen industry never took in this area. I suppose the climate wasn't ideal and more money was to be made in tobacco. Not sure if Strawbridge was himself Scotch-Irish, but he was a member of the Presbyterian community that mostly came to Somerset from the Presbytery of Laggan - Donegal. This included some Huguenots, e.g. Brevard and Aydelotte. Strawbridge was married to Jane Polk, sister to one of my own ancestors who was definitely Scotch-Irish. John Polk Maryland USA