In a message dated 01/07/00 9:28:06 PM Central Daylight Time, condor@ansonic.com.au writes: << They are mentioned extensively in the various histories and virtually all refer to them, not by their names but by their farm or origin. Hence John McDonald of Leek is known as "Leek" and his son's as , ie. Leeks Ranald or Ranald, son of Leek. They refer to Aberchalder who I assume was Alexander senior and Collachie who I assume was Allan. You said they wee referred to by the names of the area they lived in. Could these not be the names of their houses? I think our problem today, is that we think in terms of todays social structures and try to interpret details 2 or 3 hundred years old in this sense. On amother tack, can someone tell me what is meant by the term "with issue" when referring to a family, ie. John and Mary McDonald with issue! David Australia >> Without issue means no legally accounted for children. With issue means a legally registered child. Now if it was known the person had a child, whether the child was a bastard or not it could be considered as an issue. Most children and in fact many marriages in the Highlands and Islands were not registered prior to the 18 hundreds so the terms do not carry the same connotations as they did in Victoria England and later. DaveM.