Per Charles A. Hanna, "The Scotch-Irish", 1902/(1995 reprint by the Genealogical Publishing Co), Henry Erskine, the third Lord Cardross, organized a foray/colonization to the US after he refused to support the Church of England. He engaged 36 noblemen to contribute, and the ship "The Carolina Merchant" sailed from Gourock, Scotland, down the Clyde to open water on 21 July 1684. There were 148 Covenanters aboard; captain was James Gibson. ("Ships from Scotland to America - 1628-1828", David Dobson, p. 22, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1998) The ship arrived in Charles Towne, SC, on 2 Oct 1684, then proceeded on to Port Royal Island, SC, arriving there on 2 Nov 1684. The Scots established a town called Stuart Towne. In 1686, in retaliation for inciting the Indians to destroy a nearby Spanish mission, Spaniards from the South pillaged and burned Stuart Towne. Some Scots went home; others, such as the Ephraim Mikell (Michal) family stayed, establishing a family dynasty still going, on Edisto Island. Others established roots in Beaufort, SC. (See History of the Mikell family [www.people.virginia.edu/~ehm4m/docs/Townsend.html and www.people.virginia.edu/~ehm4m/docs/sc_extract.html] and history of Edisto Island, Port Royal Island, and Beaufort, SC, on the Internet). Among those who either were onboard or who supported this cause MAY be (there is no passenger list in my reference sources): William Dunlap, Midlothian Sir Henry Erskine, Midlothian Sir John Cochrane of Ochiltree, Midlothian William Elliott, Midlothian Sir George Campbell Ephriam Michal Joseph Sealy Joseph Parmenter William Trie Thomas Grimball Issac Parmenter William Tilley John Wells John Sheppard Samuel Screven A gentleman named YESTER I'm interested in who the gentleman named Yester is, who may have been a contributor to this cause or who may have been onboard. Anyone have any information on this family from East Lothian or Edinburgh? Other than the Yester Parish and the Hay of Yester, I can find nothing much on this family. There was an Elspeth Yester in the Register of Privy council, 3, 234ies, Vol 1, pg 34, of 9/6/1661, who confessed to being a witch in Spott, E. Lothian. There was also an Elizabeth Yester who married James Liddell on 3/5/1637 in Innerwick (?), East Lothian, so there was such a family. I can find many Liddells in E. Lothian, but not many Yester family members. Later there seem to be several clustered in Liff & Benvie. Any help or insight will be appreciated. salina5@flash.net