Cate, The O'CONNOR French connection would seemingly be related to the "Flight of the Earls" but this would be much earlier than the mid-1800's. However you should check and see if you could find litreature on this aspect of Irish history. I know that there is a book entitled "The Irish Brigades : Memoirs of the Most Emiinent Irish Military Commanders" by Mathew O'Conor. A quick look at the index does not show any O'CONNOR names which I am sure an O'CONNOR author would have been proud to include! :-). So maybe you would have to look at other books. King James' Army Lists possibly? For waht it is worth there is a family of O'CONNOR in South Africa whose grandfather married a French woman in Brittany , I think (Elvina du Pont) and then he went as protector of immigrants to Mauritius and from there 3 of his sons and one of his daughters came to South Africa Regards Mike >Does anyone have information or suggestions re how to check out the >possibility of an O'CONNOR French connection-in the early/mid 1800's? >TIA >Cate Bacon > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Cate & Frank Bacon >34 Wensley Road >Richmond >Nelson >NEW ZEALAND >email: [email protected] >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Michael O'Connor Orchid Grower and Genealogist Researching the names O'Connor/Connor/Connors Pietermaritzburg South Africa