Hi Bob Tuttle: I think your information (shown below) is interesting and possibly it might be correct. You are right that you can track the TUTTLES back a long way and then it seems to end (1400-1500), so maybe the portion of history before that period (900-1400) actually lies in Ireland. I will suggest one other possibility that is just my own idea and not based upon fact. At various times in ancient history the Scottish folks migrated from Scotland to Ireland. That is why the Irish play the bagpipes and wear plaid clothing, etc., just the way the Scottish do. Maybe the early TUTTLES, with various name spellings, actually migrated originally from Scotland to Ireland then to England then to the "New World" in North America. This is all very amusing to me because when my mother fought with my father, which was often, regular and brutal, she would try to hurt him and his feelings by saying the TUTTLES spent a generation in Ireland on the way to America. Wouldn't it just be a hoot if she turned out to actually be correct. I have never been desirous of being Irish (up to now), but maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. We are what we are, somebody said. What fun we are having learning about our past. Happy New Year! William R. Tuttle, Esq. TuttleEsq@aol.com In a message dated 12/21/99 2:26:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, AnEadaigh@aol.com writes: << Subj: Tuttles in Ireland? Date: 12/21/99 2:26:54 PM Eastern Standard Time From: AnEadaigh@aol.com To: TUTTLE-L@rootsweb.com Dear Extended Family (for that is indeed what we all are as Tuttles and Tuttle descendants), With regard to my previous e-mail concerning the Irish origin / connection to the Tuttle family, that info came from the book about the ancestors and descendants of William Tuttle, which I mentioned in my previous e-mail. However, after posting it to the list, it seems to have generated at least a small amount of unhappiness among some. Apparently, at least judging from some of the e-mail I have received regarding it, there are those who do not take kindly to the idea of a possible Irish origin or connection. Please let me say that I do not have any concrete definitive "proof" that the Tuttle family has an Irish origin, and that I only put forth what I have read regarding it. The idea did not originate from me, but as I said, came from the book on William Tuttle's ancestors and descendants, which I read at the Denver Public Library's Genealogy Department. This theory seems to be somewhat corroborated by both John Tuttle's journey to Ireland (he lived and died in Carrickfergus), which he and others have described as his journey "back" to Ireland (which would indicate either an earlier journey or a possible origin), as well as a traditional family legend that has been handed down through my family. This legend (for lack of a better word) has been in my family for several generations, and in a nutshell, puts forth the theory that the family lost its ancestral lands and was dispossessed by the English at some point in time. Since the family line becomes increasingly hard to trace prior to 1500 (at least for me), it is more difficult to either disprove or prove this legend / theory. I do not claim that the family's Irish origins are undeniably proven or written in stone as they say, and I am more than willing to hear, with an open mind, any evidence which points in either direction. I do believe that this should at least be investigated and given the benefit of the doubt as a possibility, however remote. For those of you who responded to me, thanks for touching base with me, and I both respect and appreciate each of your comments. I hope this discussion can continue, and who knows, perhaps some information will surface which will surprise us all. Again, thank you all, I always enjoy hearing from other Tuttle's around the country and world. Happy Holidays, Bob Tuttle AnEadaigh@aol.com >>