> Sorry to but in here - not related - but I've never heard of Janet and > Margaret being interchangeable. Has anyone else? Sue - you are certainly not butting in here. Your comments are always appreciated. Perhaps I'm clutching at straws or as Ted says, middle names may have been used. I have 7 MacPhersons born in the late 1700's at Carabus. The youngest was my gg grandfather that married into Stephanie's Johnston family and I've been able to trace. There doesn't seem to be any trace of the other 6 at least with their Christened names. And I can't see the family emmigrating and leaving the youngest behind. So that makes me wonder about middle or other names. For example, one of the missing was christened Gilchris MacPherson. I've never seen "Gilchris" being used as a first name. While I'm at it, does anyone have the naming convention handy? Might give me a clue to earlier generations. Grant

> While I'm at it, does anyone have the naming convention handy? Might give me a clue to earlier generations. The first son was named after the father's father The second son was named after the mother's father The third son was named after the father The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother The first daughter after the mother's mother The second daughter after the father's mother The third daughter after the mother The fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister Be aware though that the naming pattern was not a hard and fast rule. Cheerio Sue Visser