Meg I don't have much information about clergy, other than my own ancestry. I have checked my database for BEW & LAING, and have found nothing in common with the names you list. However, some of the Laings you list were prominent historians, etc, and you should be able to get details on them. Good Hunting! Message text written by INTERNET:ORKNEY-L@rootsweb.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 17:14:54 -0500 From: Meg Greenwood <finn@ionet.net> Ken Harrison - I read your post about ministers in Orkney around 1836. Do you have any references to earlier clergy? In researching my HALCRO line, I have gotten back to the family of Elizabeth LINAY and William BEWS. (Their daughter Margaret married Joseph HALCRO) There were 10 BEWSes, the 3 youngest had the middle name of LAING. Twins Robert and Samuel Laing BEWS born in 1800, Kirkwall, and Malcolm Laing BEWS born March, 1802, Kirkwall. I have looked for the LAING name as a surname for a previous generation, have found one for a Malcolm LAING (born 1763-Kirkwall)son of Robert LAING and Barbara BLAW. Another finding is for Samuel LAING (born 1780-Kirkwall) to the same parents. These were quite intriguing, and I really dug for a link to the BEWS family, but I cannot seem to link these families. There was another listing for a Malcolm Jaques LAING (born August, 1802-Kirkwall) to James LAING and Mary HAGGART. Could these all be named after a local clergyman? Or is there a family link I have totally missed? If you have any information on the clergy of that era, 1760 - 1800, I would like to know if there is a LAING among them, then I will not look further for a BEWS/LAING link. But then again, they might be named after a clergyman who was an ancestor ! I will just post this anyway, and go off in desperation and list a few more 1891 Census extras ! <G> Thanks to anyone who can offer insights ! Meg Greenwood< Ken Harrison North Vancouver, Canada mcharrison@compuserve.com