In a message dated 09/15/2000 6:21:38 AM US Mountain Standard Time, ferg@intelos.net writes: << Did they come because of specific occupation? I wondered, as there were many mines in Wales, if they came to work in coal mines? >> My grandparents were Welsh and immigrated from Swansea, Wales to Belmont Co, OH in 1895 because of the tin industry there. Someone (sorry I can't give credit here) once posted this info on one of the lists, which supports my grandparents move: "Additional Welsh emigration took place after the United States Government passed the McKinley Tariff Act of 1891 that had a drastic effect on the Welsh tinplate industry, leading to closures of many factories and to massive unemployment." Hope this helps. Sharon