Jim, Thanks for taking on the task of looking after all of us with SCOTTISH mining roots. I have to agree that the Coalminers-l list is a bit too vague for anyone searching outwith the USA. I would like to start by listing some of my coalming names and see if anyone has a connection. CURRIE - Inveresk, Midlothian SWAN - Tranent, East Lothian / Inveresk, Midlothian COULTER - Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire / Liberton, Midlothian LOWE - Inveresk, Midlothian / Tranent, East Lothian JAMIESON - Inveresk, Midlothian BELL - Newbattle, Midlothian ARCHIBALD - Fife PRYDE - Inveresk, Midlothian / Prestonpans, East Lothian These are just some of the miners/colliers found in my family tree so far. I also have a book which may be of interest to anyone searching for miners in the Lothian area of Scotland. It is called SCOTTISH COAL MINING ANCESTORS, by Lindsay S. Reeks. It contains research done by the author on his ancestry, and covers mainly Newton Parish & Inveresk Parish in Midlothian. If anyone has any names they would like looked up, please contact me off list. Regards Tom Currie Aberdeen Scotland <<For those members researching ancestors who mined in Scotland. I'd like to notify them of a new list I've started: I did this even though I'm subscribed to the COALMINERS-L list. That list seemed to have increasingly more & more that wasn't of much interest to me & others researching Scottish mining ancestors This list is very new & since I was astounded at how quickly it took to set up, it caught me unawares in that I've been unable to promote it as yet. To subscribe to the list simply email [email protected] with the word subscribe in the message body. I'd like to put together an online database of list members' interest areas & names, even pits worked in etc, so if you could post these to the list I'll start setting it up. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions for getting our information together. Regards Jim Rouse TASMANIA -- www.tasmail.com>> ______________________________