In a message dated 14/07/00 6:37:34 AM Central Daylight Time, RNSANGLIN@aol.com writes: << Hello All, Maybe someone on the list can steer me in the right direction. In a letter dated 1834, my gggg grandfather, Duncan MCGREGOR, speaks of his family back in the "old Country". One place he lists is, LOCHEARRAN and the other GAIRLOCH. Duncan MCGREGOR was born near INVERNESS in 1784 and came to the US about 1805 or so. At the time this letter was written, he says his parents were both dead and that none of his "brothers or sisters" had been able to pay passage to come to US due to having large families. Does anyone have a clue about the place names of LOCHEARRAN or GAIRLOCH and where they might be located? Most of his siblings seemed to be in GAIRLOCH by 1833-34. Would that be very far from INVERNESS? Gairloch is about what, 100 miles North West of Inverness as the crow flies and about 3,000 by road. (just kidding.) It is on the North West Coast of Scotland in Ross and Cromerty, <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~sctroc/index.htm">Ross and Cromarty Scotland Genealogy</A> you can click an go here to search for relatives. Gairloch is a lovely little village on the Minch, the water that separates Skye from the main land. The main road runs along the waters edge. Gaelic is still spoken in and around Gairloch and most of the houses, which are pretty well in rows and connected, or very close glisten when the sun hits them as they are painted in the black and white. Just as you come around the corner there is the Gairloch Hotel, there is also a book shop, a grocers and telephone exchange, (well that may of been replaced in the last few years), a fish shop a post office of sorts, and a police house up the road. Everyone knows everyone and it is a grand place. You can fish or collect wilks, mussles, limpets, etc., from the sea and you can roam the hills all over the area. The roads are very small and things go pretty slow in that area being that, "God in his infinite wisdom knowing how important time would be made so much of it." Oh and there is a school house. Most of the families there have been there for several generations, although there have been quite a few new comers of late. Hope that helps a wee bit. Dave M. PS for more research go to <A HREF="http://web2.airmail.net/samhradh/">Radio Celtic Home Page</A> and just click the Scottish Flag. I am hoping to make a connection with some descendants of the MCGREGORS that might still be there or at least connect him to the right bunch. >>