Hello, fellow researchers. I am looking for information on my ggg grandfather, Nicola Walter who emmigrated to America in 1751 at about the age of 30. He had a wife and 3 or 4 children at the time and he was a Roman Catholic. I have three questions: 1. The ship he arrived on in America listed the passengers as Palatines. Does the area known as the Palatinate in 1751 still closely resemble what is R-P today? 2. In my research, I have seen very, very few Nicola recorded. I know it is a variation of the name Nicolaus, but is it perhaps unique to a certain area? 3. I had a lead that he may have originated from the town or village of Hamm. On my Michelin map, there are 4 Hamms listed. The christening record showed Hamm, Saarburg, Rheinland, Prussia. Can anyone tell me where this Hamm is located and what is the name of the Catholic church for that area that would date from the late 1690`s? Any help will be very greatly appreciated. Robert Walter