Vicky, Edward, Ken et al. I am finally reviewing the flurry of August e-mails concerning the Calder-McNab(b) families. My hypothesis is that the connections between the "Thomas Calder - Catherine McNabb line (Mara Township); and (my line) Donald Calder, son Alexander Calder-Elizabeth McNabb line (Thorah Township-Beaverton) is likely in the previous (Islay) generation. There are too many similarities in Islay location, dates, first names, emigration destinations (North Carolina-Ontario) for it to be coincidental. There was never any connection mentioned of the Thomas Calder family in our family and there are no longer any living relatives that could shed any light on this. My Calder line emigrated to NC in about 1818 and Donald (spouse Isabella Campbell & son Duncan) left for Thorah Twp (Beaverton) with "the McMillan's and McFadden's and other natives of the Isle of Islay, Scotland," (Historical Atlas of Ontario-Thorah twp-1871). Son Alexander left Fayetteville NC for Beaverton in 1830. Vicky, I was surprised to read about "black Mary" in your e-mail. This was always a Calder family legend. I believe my grandmother had met her. Edward, you mentioned that you thought that "Duncan Calder" had arrived as an adult to NC. Alexander's brother Duncan came to the Charlotte area (from Beaverton) in the late 1870's with a daughter -Annie McMillan- following Duncan's wife's death. He died there shortly afterward. There are many McMillan descendents in the Charlotte area. My McNabb connection didn't come to Ontario until the 1850's from Islay. They settled in Brock Township. I understand there is McNabb's still living in that area. Please contact me and I will try to provide details. John Stanyon Sudbury ON