Deanna I have seen, on rare occasions, something from a town or county that said "these guys went to California in the gold rush." I have looking at things from the California end, having 3 different lines head west. The 1850 census (too early for Patrick McGough) and the 1852 California state census list the state (but not county) of origin, and NY is very well represented. Was Patrick still there to be enumerated in mid-1852? I don't know if the state census, or an index, is on-line; the NORCAL (northern California) rootsweb board is very active. You might try there for someone who could do a lookup in the state census, if he was still there. I get to Sacramento sporadically - have grandkids 30 miles away - and I'd be glad to do a look up when I next visit the archives there. But it could be quite a wait. By the way, I like having things posted on the board regarding your church record lookups. The Turner request piqued my interest. If you find a John Turner, I'd like to know. My John Turners (father and son) were in Oneida about 1800-1805 and 1800-1820. Larry In a message dated 12/8/2007 4:02:17 PM Pacific Standard Time, dsmith57701@adelphia.net writes: > Thanks! You took me through to Calif. as though I was on that journey. > I wonder if it could be known WHO, from Oneida Co. went and what years. > Patrick McGough went in 1851 per the records of Judge John Walsh of Utica > who did a study on the Utica Irish. He gave no source for the information > regarding Patrick unfortunately. > > Deanna > ************************************** Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)