Hello Scotland listers, It is time to introduce myself. I am a genealogy writer from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. I have learned that ancestors of mine emigrated from Scotland to Sweden in the 1600s and am trying to establish their places of origin. The Swedish genealogy book that lists them, names places in Scotland that I just cannot find. I think they may be places that no longer exist, or whose names have changed. I am hoping someone more familiar with Scottish history and geography than I can help me. I think that I have had a breakthrough with one that has had me stumped: Patrick BRUCE of Lymlyn (1500s). I have just recently discovered on the GENUKI pages that Limekilns, Fife was spelled Lymelylnes by some scribes in older times. The Bruce family does have a history there, so it looks like fruitful digging is ahead for me. Another stumper concerns the wife of Patrick BRUCE of Lymlyn, Maria FALCKONER of Halkerton. Where is Halkerton? Is/was that a town, an estate? In what parish and county? Can someone give me a clue as to where to look? A third stumper that I have been unable to solve is Welam NISBETH, "born 1596 in Scotland, descendant of the house of 'Rochell'." I cannot determine what is this Rochell. Is it a place, a family name, a manor. If so, where in Scotland? Is it a "creative spelling" that may be similar in sound to something extant today? Anyone with any ideas on this I would like to hear from you. Names I am researching in Scotland, all before 1650 are: BRUCE - FALCKONER - NISBET/NISBETH - GRAY - MUSCHAMP- EATON - SWINBURNE - LINDSAY - DOUGLAS Regards, Jeanne Nelson -- Author of ABSOLUTELY FAMILY! (For genealogists, family historians and just plain folks who love their families) http://absolutely.anthill.com/