In a message dated 9/20/98 9:17:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << I was born in 1918 in Pittsburgh but I grew up in Eastern Ohio. Both of my parents were born in County Antrim so I am a first generation American. >> Bill, Thank you for your kind reply. I too was born in Pennsylvania (New Castle) and I too grew up in Eastern Ohio: Wintersville, Jefferson Co Ohio, a small town just six miles from Steubenville. My grandparents (mother's side) lived in Washington Co, Marietta, Ohio and we visited them every year in the summer from 1938 to 1954, when we moved back to Pittsburgh. I took Ohio state civics in school, so I am an indoctrinated Ohioan. (Round on both ends and 'hi' in the middle.) On your comments; What you wrote is somewhat familiar to me as I have been focusing on Antrim in my research from time to time. I have run across the town of Balleymena, but there is also an "administrative region" called Ballymena. I assume you refer to the town. I am not sure of the parishes ("administrative districts"?). Is Skelly a town or parish? On my Antrim map I find Skerry as an area (as you say a parish) due northwest of Ballymena town. I can only find the town of Ballymena on my map. I can not find Loughconnelly or Tecloy or Carnlough (towns?) either. Are these places close to Ballymena? Are these "administrative regions" similar to our townships as in Ohio? I alos have thought that our immigrant ancestor could have been from the Clandeboye O'Neill branch. The reason that they are Protestant is covered in several histories and genealogies. Apparently, some of them were allowed to keep some their lands as they had turned Protestant and their leader, the Clandeboye O'Neill had fought against the 'rebel' O'Neill and been knighted. I have read about these confusing back-and-forth-and-back battles, skirmishes, plots, and massacres in "A History of Ulster", by Jonathon Bardon (Blackstaff Press:Belfast 1994) and in "History of the Name O'Neill" by J.D. Williams, (History House Publ.: Ennis, Co.Clare, 1983). It is terribly confusing to trace any one family through all these decades of fighting, as they appear to switch sides with abandon. The best reference I have seen is Margaret Dickson Falley's two great volumes, "Irish and Scotch-Irish Ancestral Research, (GPC:Baltimore, 1988). For example, of possible interest to you, on page 410, Vol.2, under "Presbyterian Church Records in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast" (PRONI) it lists "Buckna, Co.Antrim, Baptismal Register, Buckna Presbyterian Church, 1841-1850. Transcript." I have some more questions for you: 1. How far back in time have you been able to trace your O'Neills? William O'Neill (ca.1841-1914), Arthur O'Neill (1888-1976), William Stuart O'Neil (1918- ) 2. What places other than Ballymena, Skerry, Tecloy, Loughconnelly in N.I. did your ancestors live? Is Skerry also a town or village? 3. Have you done any genealogical research, esp. in the Presbyterian Church parish records in Ballymena/Skerry/Antrim? That would be fertile ground I'm thinking. In all my 14 years of researching the name, I have always been told that the records in Ireland esp. before 1800s are all local, and that one MUST have a place name to start research and find any kind of family connection in Ireland. 4. When was the last time you were over there? We are planning this coming year or next to go to N.I. My wife is from Norway and we were married in Oslo in 1964. We go back every few years as she has much family there. 5. Have you been on the O'NEALL-LIST that I mentioned? Have you ever checked out the associated web site for Shane's castle? The listowner, Jill O'Neall Ching, of Hawaii, has some sites which relate to a Hugh O'Neall/O'Neill of Shane's Castle. There is quite a lot of discussion on this list about it. Since our family, like yours were mostly farmers, etc. I just assumed there was no noble connection. But, when the Clandeboye O'Neills were dispossessed by the English, there could have been a great many O'Neill relatives left with no lands or livelihood and some could have emigrated. By the way, since we are both on AOL, we can do "instant messages" when we are both on line at the same time. I have added your screen name to my 'buddy list' so I will know when you are online. Let's keep in touch, Bill. Regards, Bob O'Neal 2102 N. Union Ave Tacoma WA 98406 Tel: 253-752-8242 Fax: 253-759-7113