Hi I'm new to the list. My husband's great-grandmother was Ann Victoria SMELTZER, whose father, Philip, was of Irish Palatine descent. I would love to find out what village in Germany his ancestor, Peter SMELSER, from whom all Irish Palatine Smeltzers are believed to be descended, came from. The SMELTZER family has been extensively researched and published in two books by Marjorie R SMELTZER, "The Smeltzers of Kilcooly" (1981) and "Irish-Palatine Smeltzers around the World" (1987). I read in the archives the message about the BIBLE family of Kilfinane (28 Feb 2002). On p. 137 of "Irish-Palatine Smeltzers around the World" are details of a marriage between a SMELTZER and a BIBLE. "Maria SMELTZER c 1838-1925; m # 1 Peter BIBLE 9 February 1859 Kilcooly (Ch Reg) (d 1868), son of William BIBLE and (Mary COOKE m 1812 ?); m # 2 Andrew PEARSON. Twins (BIBLE) died in infancy." The children of Maria SMELTZER and Peter BIBLE were as follows:- William BIBLE 6/1/62 land steward Mullinbro, Co WAT; em CAN c 1913; in Edmonton, ALB 1932 John BIBLE 4/4/1864; em Canada 1885; visited mother IRL 1913; in Edmonton, ALB 1932 Frank Henry (Harry) BIBLE Jr; c 1865; em CAN end of War of NW Rebellion; visited IRL 1913; operated family grocery business Toronto landmark for over 50 years; lived Logan Ave 1932; m Fanny Elizabeth ROBINSON (C1868 - 1960). Ch: Frank Henry Jr BIBLE Mary Anne BIBLE d 12/1/18; m John COOKE of Bonlea. Ch: Henry, Peter, Susan, Maria, Adam, Kate, John, William, Elizabeth COOKE Susan Jane BIBLE 2/10/1867; 7 mos old when her father died; kept house for bro William; worked as maid bef marriage; m Edward McCarthy on 6/12/00 Kilcooly (1868); lived Crohane, Killenaule The Exodus from the Palatinate 1709 The Palatinate lands had been fought over for many years, various rulers laying claim to them. There was a particularly vicious campaign in 1707, which forced many of the population to flee, then in the winter of 1709 there was a very severe frost which killed many of the fruit trees and vines. Large numbers of the inhabitants had heard that the English were looking for settlers for their colonies in the New World and travelled to Rotterdam, from where the British transported them to England. They were lodged in encampments and houses, but far too many to be sent to America all at once. It was decided to send some of them to Ireland. One party went to the estate of Sir Thomas Southwell in Co Limerick. Marjorie Smeltzer reports (p 4 of "Irish-Palatine Smeltzers around the World"): "Sir Thomas Southwell, who became Baron Southwell in 1717, was an Irish lord and member of Parliament, interested in fostering the linen industry and increasing the Protestant population. On ! his estate in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, was settled the largest colony of Palatines (approximately 1200), at Court Mattress, Killiheen and Ballingrane. Subsequently many moved to Adare, Pallaskenry, Askeaton, Kilfinane and Ballyorgan in Co. Limerick; Castle Island in Co. Kerry; Kilcooly, Co. Tipperary; and Papatinetown, Co. Carlow. Sir Thomas loaned his tenants considerable sums of money and helped with gifts of various kinds, including timber for their homes. In 1712 he asked the government to repay some of his expenses, noting that about 130 were settled there and successfully raising hemp, flax and livestock. His heirs were Roman Catholic and less sympathetic to the Palatines. In 1711, only 577 families remained of the 821 that had been brought to Irland in 1709 and 1710. In 1712 there were 263 families and 979 persons left in Ireland. Fifty years later John Wesley estimated that there had been 110 families settled on Lord Southwell's estate. Rt. Hon. Silver Oliver settled 60 families of approximately 700 individuals in Kilfinane, C. LIM, about 1740. Some of these later married into families in Kilcooly. Sir Richard Quin, father of the first Lord Dunraven, established a colony of Palatines at Adare in 1776. Col. Blennerhasset brought Palatines to his estate at Arabella, near Castle Island, Co. Kerry, about 30 years earlier. In 1776 there were 15 or 16 families there. He gave each family a cow, horse and everything needed for a year and leased small farms at half their value. Palatines introduced the wheeled plough and replaced the sliding Irish cart with a wheeled cart. Sir William Barker invited Palatines to Kilcooly, Co. Tipperary, in 1772." I hope this will be of some assistance to someone. Yvonne