This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: richardakelly Surnames: Reid Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.reid/3795/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I'm investigating a family tradition that some of my Reid ancestors emigrated to the USA (my lot moved around Scotland, Ireland and England), where one of them became a silent movie star, who became addicted to morphine initially taken to overcome the pain of injuries recieved during filming. From scouting around the internet, this seems to tie quite closely to the story of Wallace (or William Wallace) Reid (?1891/2 - 1923). Several sources give his father as Hal Reid or James Halleck Reid (d.1920), but I haven't been able to establish any links further back to Ireland or Scotland. Does anyone have any information on this family? The family tradition also says that on the same branch of the family there was a Reid (possibly Stephen or James) who became a wealthy building contractor, including working on St Patrick's Cathedral in New York (which I think was built in the 1850s/60s). Any information gratefully received. Regards Richard. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.