Jan 4 Dear Listers, I'd like to publicly thank Gwenda, Diane and Ella for their informative responses. I think we're on to something here! I'm glad to know that "Mc" and "Mac" are used interchangeably and that Jean and Jane and Jessie are used interchangeably. Below is the information about my great grandmother that appears to be correct and about the family from which it appears she came. I'm also including what I know of her marriage etc. I hope this lengthy note is not inappropriate to the purpose of the list. Elizabeth Crighton McDonald: dob Oct 2 1858, Edinburgh Father: Malcolm McDonald Mother: Jane Mitchell 1881 British census (note: dates of birth provided by a lister) 65 York Place Edinburgh St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Scotland Malcolm MacDonald, 69, Army pensioner, born in Dundee, Forfar, Scotland Jane MacDonald, wife, 58, born in Dysart, Fife, Scotland Isabella MacDonald, daughter, 28 (Oct 21 1851) Ceylon <-I assume this is the country that is now Sri Lanka and not Ceylon, Scotland. Is this possible??? Margaret MacDonald, daughter, 23 (Dec 30, 1855), St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Scotland Malcolm MacDonald, son, apprentice clerk to SSC, 16 (Feb 21, 1865) , St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Scotland David WELLS, boarder, 37, M, Kirriemuir, Forfar, Scotland, fishing tackle dealer Other children found by a lister: Helen, dob, May 3, 1845 Jane, dob, April 21, 1843 Mary, dob, April 4, 1854 Jessie, dob, July 20, 1861 Elizabeth Crighton McDonald married James (Samuel James) Charlesworth on September 29, 1880, in St. Mary's, Liscard, Cheshire, England. He was a mariner. Thus, Elizabeth doesn't show up with the rest of the McDonalds in the 1881 census. On the 1881 census Elizabeth and James (Samuel James ) don't show up in their own residence. Rather there is an Elizabeth Charlesworth, age 21, residing with the Kirkpatricks: 2 Comely Bank Liscard, Cheshire, England James Kirkpatrick, 68, retired shipbuilder, born in Scotland Isabella Kirkpatrick, 68, wife, born in Scotland Thomas Kirkpatrick, unmarried, 28, born in Scotland Elizabeth Charlesworth, married, 21, birthplace listed as Lancashire, England. Her age isn't quite right, though. Either is her birthplace so assuming that she lived with them while my g grandfather was at sea is a real long shot. My grandmother and her siblings were born in Cheshire between 1886 and 1890. I have their birth records. Is the 1891 census available on CD or fiche at the FHC? Yesterday I was concentrating on 1881. Elizabeth Charlesworth died young, probably in 1896. I have written for the death record and should receive it by the end of January. I thank you for your indulgence and for the wonderful responses and encouragement I received. Best regards, Roberta Meehan New Jersey, USA antrob@optonline.net