Looking for information on ALEXANDER LAIRD and ELIZABETH SCOT, born appx. 1732 or later in Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, and on their descendants. I am descended from Joseph C. who came to America in about 1816. I have just recently found information on Joseph's sister, Helen, from LDS website. Her husband and all her children, according to LDS, were born in 'CLOAK', Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire. Have not been able to find ANY information on CLOAK, whether it is an area, or perhaps the name of a parish in which the husband and children were christened. I am also very interested to find any Laird descendants still living in Scotland. also, the derivation of the name LAIRD as a surname, rather than a title. It has been suggested it was originally Viking in origin, perhaps originally as LAYARD or something like that. THE CHILDREN OF ALEXANDER LAIRD AND ELIZABETH SCOT: James Laird 1758 Helen Laird, 1760 (married John Holm 1783) Children: James, Elizabeth, Alexander, Ann, Agnes, John, Helen, Janet Alexander 1763 Robert 1765 William 1769 Joseph C. 1771 (Married Ellen Elleanor Morrison 1799 in Aberdeen) Children: William R., Elizabeth, Susan Anna, James, Alexander, Eleanor, John, Ernest, Peter. Joseph 1775 Thomas 1777 I have found many relatives descended from Joseph C. My database contains 2,200 names so far. Would also like to trace his sister Helen's descendants, HOLM family. Any help, advice, insight, would be appreciated! Silver Samantha Parnell Decendant of Alexander Laird and Elizabeth Scott “We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilization” -- Voltaire Genealogy websites to which I contribute information: http://www.gencircles.com http://www.geneanet.org http://www.worldconnect.rootsweb.com http://www.mytrees.com http://www.genealogy.com http://www.cousinconnect.com http://www.ancestry.comGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com