After finding so many errors in the Woods-McAfee text, I thought I would take a look at the John Woods-Isabella Bruce information, particularly the question of who were John's parents. To this end, I have looked at the following material. I found the book entitled "The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland" that was published in the 1800s and is based upon the official records of the English Government. It contains numerous lists and charts and, as a practical matter, is very boring. This said, there are listed only 7 Wood (no s) "adventurers," as they were called. Further, the only John was in the "sea service." The others were: 1. a Robert or Richard of Harlow 2. an Edward 3. a Thomas who was a tailor from London 4. a Richard of Chesterfield 5. a Robert of London who was a "wax chandler," whatever that was. 6. another Robert who is described as "of Kingston, of Surry, Gentleman" As to why these individuals joined with Cromwell, there is a very detailed explanation that boils down to anybody who wanted to go could put up a bond of "x" amount of funds. These funds could them be used to to purchase some of the 2,500,000 acres of Irish land that were to be forfeited to those who put up the funding. According to the text: "The subscribers were to have estates and manors of one thousand acres given to them in Ireland at the following low rates: Ulster (200 pounds); Connaught (300 pounds), in Munster (450), and in Leinster for (600), and lands proportionately for less sums." In short, they were opportunists. The second issue revolves around an entry in yet another academic book entitled "The Scottish Migration to Ulster in the Reign of James I." There is a record, in 1609, of an Andrew Wood of Ayr, Scotland, who emigrated to Ireland. He had a brother named John who was from Geilston, outside of Edinburgh. Now the big question. Does anyone have a clue as to the identity of John's parents. I know there is the Yorshire reference, but I can find nothing to support other than Woods-Mcafee and the Miller text and a few others. And all of them simply restate the same thing. It seems to me that the Woodses had to be Scottish. If they weren't why were they so cozy with the Wallaces and the Campbell families. For that matter, there is even a record of a Wood Clan in Scotland. I personally feel that the John Wood who provided the "sea services" is probably the same John who married Isabella Bruce. I also think John is probably descendant of the Wood family of Fife, Scotland who, according to some, had land holdings in Yorkshire and Lancaster Counties, England. There were numerous John and Andrews in the family, including a few Archibalds, Thomases, Williams, Jameses , Andrews and the rest of the family names. But the generations seem to rotate between John and Andrew. They were also sea captain types, going back to Sir Andrew in the 1400s. This, I suppose, might connect with the John in the "sea service." I want to stress that don't claim to have all the answers, for that matter, I'm not even sure of the questions. I don't know who John's parents might be. But I would like to hear some other opinions. Brett F. Woods Santa Fe, New Mexico