Hello Louise, It's difficult to find 17th century and earlier references for Ulster on line. Try www.proni.gov.uk If you click on the Freeholders' Records you will get 1 hit for McElwain, 0 for McElwaine, 23 for McIlwain and 13 for McIlwaine throughout Ulster. www.ulsterancestry.com may have something for you in their free pages. Otherwise I'd suggest looking at county websites and their mailing lists. I can give you some of those if you think it will help. Rob Doragh Liverpool UK louise harrison <louharr@hotmail.com> Subject: McElwain Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 searching for McElwain family in Ulster from 1697 to 1790.