September 1, 1997 Irish & Scot Newsletter May St. Patrick smile on you, The Lord above bless you, And peace and contentment Forever possess you! Author Unknown COUNTIES OF IRELAND - The following brief histories for the counties of Ireland are taken from "Irish Records Sources for Family & Local History" by James G. Ryan, Ph.D., Copyright Ancestry Incorporated (USA), ISBN # 0-916-489-22-1 NOTE: Wexford and Wicklow are the last two counties of Ireland to be described in the newsletter. If you missed a county, you can download past issues from the newsletter library as described above. COUNTY WEXFORD - A Brief History Located in the southeastern corner of Ireland, County Wexford contains the towns of Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross, and Gorey. The county was traditionally the territory of the McMurroughs, Kavanaghs, and Kinsellas. Other Irish families in the county included O'Day, O'Leary, Murphy, O'Byrne, O'Dugan, and Bolger. A settlement on the site of Wexford town was shown on the maps drawn by Ptolemy in the second century A.D. The modern town of Wexford was founded and named (Waesfjord) by the Norse Vikings as a trading settlement in the ninth or tenth century and became a large town and a major port. Following the Norman invasion the Norse were driven from Wexford town to the area around Rosslare where they gradually assimilated into the local population. However, because the Norse did not use surnames, there is little evidence of their heritage in the family names of the county. It was in County Wexford that the first Normans, led by Robert Fitzstephen, landed in 1169. Evidence of their establishment in Wexford can be seen in the many Norman names now common in the county. These include Sinnott, Esmond, Stafford, Codd, Furlong, Wadding, Hore, and Devereux. The name Meyler, of Welsh origin, is also found in the county since Norman times. These Norman invaders gradually assimilated into the native population except in the baronies of Bargy and Forth where, cut off from the rest of the county, they developed a distinct culture and a dialect, called Yola, which is a mixture of old English and Irish. This survived until the nineteenth century. In 1610 there was a small plantation of the county in which part of the land of the Mc-Murroughs in the northern part of the county was confiscated and given to English settlers. The McMurroughs, in return, got fall title to the remainder of their lands. As a result of local protests over this plantation, many local families were transported to Virginia. The records of contemporary Virginia settlements show many Murphy, Bolger, Kavanagh, and Byrne families. In 1641, Wexford joined the rebellion of the "Confederacy" of Irish Catholics (see Co. Kilkenny) and Wexford town became one of the major centers. In 1649 Oliver Cromwell besieged Wexford and, on its surrender, massacred the inhabitants. The lands of the rebel chieftains were confiscated and many were transported to the West Indies, or ordered to move west of the Shannon. Their lands were given either to those loyal to the English Parliament or as payment to Cromwell's soldiers and officers. In 1661 many hundreds of English families were brought into Enniscorthy to man the iron-works which were growing rapidly in that town. The county was not extensively involved in the Wifliamite/Jacobite conflict of the 1690s. The county was a major center of the 1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen. A huge army of Wexfordmen, incited by the burning of a church at Boolavogue, took Wexford and Enniscorthy and controlled the entire county. The insurgents were finally defeated at Vinegar Hill near Enniscorthy. The county has always been noted for its prosperous farms and industrious farmers. Perhaps for this reason it was less affected than many others by the Great Famine of 1845-47. The rural population density in 1841 was one of the lowest in the country at 217 persons per square mile. The total population in 1841 was 202,000, and ten years later it had fallen to 180,000. There was considerable emigration, particularly from the north of the county. As elsewhere, emigration continued throughout the nineteenth century. The population by 1891 was 112,000 and is currently around 100,000. Wexford is commonly regarded as an ethnically distinct part of the country because of the blend of Irish, Norse, and Norman blood. COUNTY WICKLOW - A Brief History This scenic, wooded Leinster coastal county contains the towns of Wicklow, Bray, Rathnew, Arklow, Rathdrum, Enniskerry, Greystones, and Baltinglass. Because of its scenery and fine woodlands it is known as the "Garden of Ireland" and has been a popular resort area since the eighteenth century. The county has a wide coastal strip of fertile land, and the inland parts are mountainous. In pre-Norman times this county was the territory of the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles. The families of O'Cullen, O'Kelly, O'Teige (Tighe), (0')Gahan, and McKeogh (or Kehoe) are also associated with the county. There were a number of Viking settlements on the Wicklow coast, including the towns of Arklow and Wicklow whose names are of Danish origin. The family name of Doyle, which is common in the county (and elsewhere in Leinster), is also of Scandinavian origin. After the Norman invasion the coastal parts of the county came under the control of various Norman adventurers. These included the families of Archbold, Cosgrave, and Eustace. Wicklow town itself was granted to Maurice Fitzgerald who fortified it against the constant attacks from the O'Brynes and O'Tooles who retained control of the more extensive mountaneous parts of the county. These families continued to rule most of Wicklow for many centuries afterwards and made constant raids on the city of Dublin and on the Norman settlements in Wicklow. Their power was severely curtailed after the rebellion of the Irish Catholics in 1641 when Cromwell took every fort and stronghold in the county. However, the mountains of Wicklow continued to provide refuge for rebels until after the 1798 rebellion when the so-called Military Road was built through the heart of the mountains to provide military access. During the Great Famine of 1845-47 the county was not as badly affected as others. Nevertheless, the population dropped by over 20 percent between 1841 (126,000) and 1851 (99,000). Almost 13,000 people died in the county between 1845 and 1850. The north of Wicklow and particularly the towns of Bray, Greystones, and Enniskerry have become increasingly populated during the last century. These towns are now large commuter areas for the city of Dublin. The population of the county is currently over 90,000. COUNTIES OF SCOTLAND - The following brief histories of the counties of Scotland are taken from "A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland" by Samuel Lewis, reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc. ISBN # 0-8063-1256-4 NOTE: Next month will be the last two counties of Scotland described in the newsletter. If you missed a county you can download previous issues from the newsletter library as previously described. SUTHERLANDSHIRE, a county, in the north of Scotland, bounded on the north by the North Sea; on the east and north-east, by Caithness-shire; on the south, by Ross-shire and the Firth of Dornoek; on the soutb.east, by the Moray and Dornoch Firths; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It lies between 67 degrees 53 minutes and 58 degrees 33 minutes (N. Lat.) and 3 degrees 40 minutes and 5 degrees 13 minutes (W. Long.), and is about sixty-two miles in length and forty nine miles in breadth comprising an area of 2875 square miles, or 40,000 acres, of which about 32,000 acres are inlets of the sea, forming salt-water lochs. There are 5157 houses, of which 4977 are inhabited; and the population amounts to 24,782, of whom 11,384 are males and 13,398 females. This county is supposed to have derived its name from its forming the southern division of the diocese of Caithness, of which it at one time was a part. It appears to have been early visited by the Romans, over whom Corbred I. obtained a signal victory, being assisted by a family of Germans who had been expelled from their native country by the Romaos, and to whom, in consideration of their services, Corbred granted all the lands northward of the river Spey. In the reign of Corbred II., another body of the same people, who were called the Cattli came over from Germany, and settling in these laude contributed to the vichry which that monarch, called by the Roman historian Galgacus, achieved over the Roman invaders previously to their subjugation of the kingdom, The ancestors of the present noble family of Sutherland early became proprietors of the territory; and from the ancient chieftains, first distinguished by the title of thanes, or earls, in the former part of the 13th century, the title has lineally descended to the present Duke of Sutherland, proprietor of nearly the whole shire, Prior to the abolition of episcopacy, the county formed a part of the see of Caithness, of which the cathedral church was at Dornoch. it has since that time been included in the synod of Sutherland and Caithness, and comprises two presbyteries, and thirteen parishes. For civil purposes, the county, once a portion of the sheriffdom of Caithness, has been separated from that shire, and erected into a distinct sheriffdom, of which Dornoch as the county town, is the seat of court. Besides the royal burgh of Dornoch, the county contains the villages of Golspie, Brora, and Helmsdale, on the eastern, and some smaller visages on the northern and western coasts. By the act of the 2nd of William IV., it returns one member to the imperial parliament. The surface presents a general assemblage of mountainous heights, valleys, and moors, in continuous succession; the coasts are deeply indented with inlets of the sea, running far into the land, and forming, as already remarked, extensive lochs. Sutherland is naturally divided into two districts, the characteristic features of which are strongly marked. The land in the southeastern or level district, towards the sea, is flat and fertile, and sheltered on the northwest by a ridge of hills varying from 300 to 800 feet in height. The remainder of the county, and which embraces nearly five sixths of its whole extent, is of a wild and mountainous aspect, abounding in lakes and with Alpine scenery, and intersected with some pleasant straths and rivers, such as those of Helmsdale, Brora, Fleet, Oikel, Naver, Halladale, and Tongue. It also contains some large tracts of table-land. The principal mountains are, BenMore, in Assynt, which has an elevation of 3431 feet above the level of the sea; Ben-Clibrig, which rises to the height of 3164; Ben-Hope, near the lake called Loch Hope, and Fionaven, which are respectively 3061 and 3016 feet high; Ben-Hee, Spionnadh, and Benarmine, which range from 2800 to 2300 feet in height and numerous other mountains, varying in elevation from about 1900 to about 1300 feet. Among the chief rivers is the Oikel, which has its source in Loch Aish, near the eastern base of BenMore, and flowing in an eastern direction along a pleasant and well-wooded vale, forms a boundary between this county and Ross-shire. After a course of more than forty miles, in which it receives the waters of Loch Shin, and numerous streams, including the Carron from Ross-shire, it constitutes the Kyle of Sutherland, and falls into Dornoch Firth, from which it is navigable for a small distance. The Cassley and the Shin are both fine rivers, the former flowing along the strath of that name, and the latter issuing from Loch Shin: after a course of not more than six miles, they both fall into the Oikel. The river Fleet, flowing through Strath-Fleet with great rapidity, and across the estuary of which the improvement called the Strath-Fleet mound has been thrown, acquires a considerable breadth, and joins the sea at the small port known as the Little Ferry. The Brora, passing through Loch Brora, runs into the sea at the village of Brora; while the Helmsdale, rising in Loch Baden in the parish of Kildonan, falls into the sea at the village of Helmsdale, about three miles to the south of the Ord of Caithness. In the northern part of the county are, the river Halladale, which rises also in the heights of Kildonan, and after a course of about twenty miles, flows into the Pentland Firth at the Tor of Bighouse; the Strathy, which has its source in the parish of Farr, and watering the Highland vale of that name, falls into the sea at the small village of Strathy. the river Harer, which issues from a loch, and passing through Strathnaver, after a course of thirty miles falls into the sea at the bay of Torrisdale; and several smaller streams, of which the Borgie, the Hope, and the Dionard are the chief. On the western coast are the rivers Inchard, Laxford, Inver, and Kirkaig, all of which, after flowing a distance of from ten to fifteen miles, through wild and romantic tracts of country, fall into salt-water lochs, or inlets of the sea. The inlet in the county form excellent harbours of refuge for ships and boats. The principal lake is Loch Shin, the largest of a chain of lakes which, having merely intervals of land varying from two to three or four miles, like those in the line of the Caledonian canal, might afford a communication by water between the eastern and western seas. It is about fifteen miles in length, and from one to two miles in breadth, but is not distinguished by many interesting features. The other lakes in this chain are, Loch Geam, of at the western extremity of Loch Shin, and closely adjoining it, about three miles in length. Loch Merkland, two miles to the west of Loch Geam, and from is three to four miles in length; Loch More, about a mile, and a half to the west of Merkland, and five miles in length; the Loch Stack, one mile to the north-west of, Loch More, of circular form, and about one mile in diameter. Loch Assynt, the principal lake in the Assynt - district, in which are about 200 lakes of smaller dimensions, is nearly seven miles in length, and from one to two miles in breadth, the surrounding scenery is beautifully picturesque, and from the heights that crown its banks are some extensive and deeply-interesting prospects. The chief lakes in the immediate vicinity are ; shore of Urigill, Cama, Veyatie, Nagana, Beanoch, Gorm- loch, and Culfreich; these are all of considerable extent, and some of them are marked with features of romantic character. In Durness, Loch Hope is the most interesting lake. It is situated at the base of the lofty mountain Ben-Hope, and is about six miles in length, and from one to two miles in breadth. From its northern extremity issues a small river which, after a course of the little more than a mile, flows into the sea at Inverhope Loch Laoghal, on the eastern side of the mountain of Laoghal, is, with Loch Craigie, a continuation of it, about seven miles in length. To the south-weal of this is Loch Maedie, about three miles in length, and having on its surface some picturesque wooded islands, and about five miles to the east of Maedie is Loch Naver extending for six miles along the base of Ben-Clibrig. On the east side of this mountain are the secluded and picturesque Lochs Corr and Vealloch, the former three and the latter two, miles in length; to the east of which are Loch Strathy, and various other lakes in the higher parts of Kildonan, including Loch Baden, Loch-na-Clar, Loch-na-Cuen, and Loch Truderscaig. In the southeastern district are also some lakes. The most interesting is Loch Brora, three miles and a half in length, in some parts contracting its width to half a mile, and; in others expanding to a mile and a half, its banks display many of the most attractive features of Highland scenery. Only a comparatively small proportion of the land is in cultivation, the greater part by far being mountain pasture, heath, and moor. Of the arable land the prevailing soils are clay, sand, peat-moss, and a mixture of sand, gravel, and black mould, forming a kind of bezel loam. There are some very fine arable farms along the eastern coast and Dornoch Firth, which are in high cultivation, the system of husbandry being fully equal to that pursued in the most fertile parts of the country. The chief crops are barley and oats, the barley is esteemed to be the best in the north of Scotland and some favourable crops of wheat are also raised Peas and beans were formerly much cultivated, but since the introduction of potatoes, the growth of the latter has been discontinued. The mountainous districts afford good pasturage; sheep are the principal stock reared in the county, and more than 200,000 are fed on the mountain pastures, usually of the Cheviot breed. Cattle are reared and fattened on the arable farms along the south-eastern coast. The horses were principally of the Highland breed; but since the extension of sheep-farming, the, number has been greatly diminished, On those portions of the arable land of the county occupied by agriculturists, great improvements have been made by drainage and inclosures. Some portions of waste land also, have been brought info profitable cultivation. The farm-houses are in general substantially built and well arranged; and most modern improvements in the construction of agricultural implements have been adopted in the county. There are a few remains of ancient woods, consisting of coppices of oak, with some birch and alder the plantations, most of which are of recent growth, are of Scotch fir, larch, ash, beech, and elm, with a few birch, alder, and hazel. The principal substrata are coal, limestone, marble, and freestone, but no minerals of importance have been discovered. In this county the seats are Dunrobin Castle, Skibo Castle, Tongue House, Embo Uppat, Clyne, Kintradwell, Cyder Hall, Crackaig, and a few others. The cotton-manufacture, formerly introduced, has been discontinued since the destruction of the works at Spinningdale, near Creich, by an accidental fire in 1806. The herring-fishery off the coast affords employment to a considerable number of persons; the chief trade of the several ports consists in the exportation of sheep, wool, salmon, and kelp: the cattle are mostly driven to the southern markets. Chiefly under the auspices of the Sutherland family, assisted by parliamentary grants, the interior of the county has been opened by excellent roads, which afford great facility of communication, and must tend much to the development of its natural resources. The Duke of Sutherland has also had excellent inns for the accommodation of travellers provided at all convenient stations throughout the county. The annual value of real property in Sutherlandshire, according to returns made in connexion with the income-tax, is 36,113 pounds sterling, of which 33,689 pounds sterling are for lands, 860 pounds sterling for horses, and the remainder for fisheries. Among the monuments of antiquity are, the interesting remains of Dornoch cathedral, and the ruins of Pictish castles, of which Coles Castle and Dun-Dornigil are the chief; with numerous cairns, encampments, and subterraneous buildings, Dunrobin Castle, also though still occupied, is a most ancient baronial stronghold. STIRLINGSHIRE, a county, in the eastern part of, Scotland, bounded on the north by Perthshire Clackmannanshire; on the east by the county of Linf lithgow; on the southeast by part of Lanarkshire; and on the south, and also on the west, by the county of Dumbarton. It lies between 66 degrees 66 minutes and 66 degrees 16 minutes (N. Lat.) and 3 degrees 30 minutes and 4 degrees 14 minutes (W. Long.), and is about forty-five miles in length and eighteen miles in extreme breadth, comprising an area of about 489 square miles or 312,960 acres 16,614 houses, of which 15,813 are inhabited, and containing a population of 82,057, of whom 41,004 are males and 41,053 females. The early history of this county is involved in much obscurity. At the time of the Roman invasion it became a station of importance, and Agricola is said to have erected some fortifications on the hill on which the castle of Stirling was afterwards built, as commanding the Roman road from Camelon to the north of Scotland. In confirmation of this opinion, are adduced the remains of Roman forts in several parts of the county, the traces of the wall of Antonine, and the discovery of coins, weapons and various other relics of antiquity. After the departure of the Romans from Britain, the county was frequently the scene of hostilities between the sovereigns of the adjacent kingdoms. The battle in which Kenneth II of Scotland obtained that victory over the Picts which put an end to their existence as a nation, and united both kingdoms under his dominion, is said to have taken place in a field near Stirling, thence called Cambuskenneth; and two upright stones, yet remaining, are thought to have been raised in commemoration of his success. In the ninth century, this portion of the country became the conquest of the Northumbrian Saxons; and it continued to be included in their territories till the time of Kenneth III., who not only recovered this part of his rightful dominions, but also made himself master of the extensive kingdom of Strath-y-Cluyd. Ever since that period Stirling has formed an integral portion of the kingdom of Scotland. The subsequent history of the county is so intimately blended with that of its castle, which in the reign of the Stuarts became a royal residence, and so closely identified with the general history of Scotland, that any further detail here would be superfluous. The county is included chiefly in the synod of Perth and Stirling, and contains parts of several presbyteries, and twenty-one parishes. For civil purposes it is under the jurisdiction of a sheriff depute, who appoints a sheriff-substitute. The general quarter-sessions and ther courts are held at Stirling, and the ordinary and small-debt sheriff courts at Stirling and at Falkirk; the sheriffs small debt circuit courts are held at Lennoxtown, Drymen, and Balfron. The only royal burgh is that of Stirling, the county town. besides which the shire contains the populous burgh of Falkirk, and the thriving and pleasant towns or villages of St. Niainn, Lirth, Balfron, Bannockhurn, Camelon, Carron, Denny, Drymen, Fintry, Grangemouth, Gargunnock, Killearo, Lileyth, Kippen, Larbert, Lennoxtown, Milngavie, Laurieston, Polmont, and Strathblane. By the act of the end of William IV., the county returns one member to the imperial parliament. The surface is diversified with mountains and hills, with valleys, and some fine tracts of fertile plain. It abounds in ornamental timber, and the scenery picturesque, in many parts strikingly romantic. The most conspicuous of the mountains is the ridge called the Campsie Fells, extending from the east of the parish of Denny, through Kilsyth, Campsie, Strathblane, and Killearn, for nearly twenty miles towards the west. These hills have an elevation varying from 1300 to 1500 feet above the level of the sea, and from the highest of them, in the parish of Kileyth, a most extensive and interesting prospect is obtained, embracing an area of some thousands of square miles. Towards Loch Lomond, the west, which is more especially regarded as the Highland district of the county, rises the majestic mountain of Ben-Lomond, 326 feet big. Many of the hills in the eastern and southern districts are covered with verdure to their summit, and have a pleasing aspect. The principal rivers are the Forth, the Carron, the Endrick, the Blane, the Kelvin, and the Bannockburn. Of these the Forth has its source in two streams near the mountain of Ben-Lomond, one of which, the less important, and called the Duchray water, rises in this county, bounds it for a short distance, and at Aberfoyle, in the county of Perth, unites with the other. The other rises close to Loch Katrine, and flows eastward through part of Perthshire. Receiving various streams in its progress, the Forth bounds the county for many miles, and enters it at Craigforth, where it is augmented by the waters of the Teith; it attains a considerable breadth at Stirling, where it becomes navigable, and thence gradually expands into the Firth of Forth. The Carron rises in the parish of Fintry; and after a rapid course, in which it turns several mills, and forms a romantic cataract called the Linn Spout, it affords a supply for the reservoir of the Carron iron-works, at Larbert, and falls into the Forth at Grangemouth. The Endrick has its source also in the parish of Fintry, and, taking a western direction through the vale to which it gives name, forms some interesting cascades: one of these, called the Loup of Fintry, has a fall of ninety feet, This river flows into Loch Lomond at a short distance from Buchanan House. The Blane, a small but pleasing stream, rises in the Lennox hills; it waters the parish of Strathblane, to which it gives name, and, after a course of about twelve miles, in which it forms a pleasing cascade of seventy feet, flows into the Endrick in the parish of Killearn. The Kelvin has its source in the parish of Kilsyth, and flowing in a south-western direction, forms a boundary for some miles between the county of Stirling and the counties of Dumbarton and Lanark; it falls into the Clyde at Partick, about two miles west of Glasgow. The Bannockburn, celebrated for the memorable battle between the Scots under Robert Bruce and the army of Edward II., rises in the parish of St. Ninian's, and, after a short course through a picturesque glen, falls into the Forth a few miles below Stirling. Numerous smaller streams, descending from the hills, also intersect the surface in various directions. they all abound with trout, and salmon are found in most of the rivers. There are not many lakes, and none of them are of any great extent except Loch Lomound which extends for nearly fourteen miles along the western boundary of the county. Of the lands, about 200,000 acres are arable, 60,000 meadow and good pasture, and nearly 63,000 hill pasture, moorland, and waste. This is exclusive of the parish of Alva, which, though more than four miles distant from the nearest confines of Stirlingshire, and entirely surrounded by the counties of Clackmannan and Perth, has since the commencement of the seventeenth century been attached to this county. The soil is extremely various, but generally fertile. In the eastern, portion of the county is a beautiful expanse of carse land in the highest state of cultivation, consisting of clayey loam, interspersed with tracts of light gravelly soil, and small patches of sand: on the banks of the Forth are more than 40,000 acres of this rich alluvial soil. In different parts are tracts of wet retentive clay; and the higher moorlands, of which there are some extensive breadths, are chiefly moss; but most of the hills afford excellent pasture for sheep. The principal crops are wheat, oats, barley, flax, peas, beans, potatoes, and turnips: vegetables of all kinds are raised in great abundance, and of good quality; and fruit-trees of every description thrive Inxuriantly. Agriculture, though varying in different parts according to the varieties of the soil, is in a highly improved state, the lands are well drained, and inclosed chiefly with hedges of thorn and are double trenches. On the cares lands the farms are generally about 100 acres in extent; but many of the hill farms extend to 4000 acres. The farm-buildiings are substantial and commodiously arranged, and every recent improvement in the construction of agricultural implements has been adopted. Few cattle are reared in the county, which is generally supplied from the Highlands. The cows on the dairy lands, to the management of which much attention is paid, are of the Ayrshire breed, and the horses for draught chiefly of the Lanark or or Clydesdale breed. The sheep many thousands of which are pastured on the moorlands, are mostly the black-faced or Highland, with some of the Tweeddale a description and other breeds. There are strata of whinstone and granite, of which the bills are mainly composed and freestone of various; colours, of which some valuable quarries are extensively wrought at Torwood, in the eastern part of the county. In the parish of Killearn are quarries of millstone grit, which is much in request. In the parishes of Campsie, a Fintry, and Strathblane, are found fine specimens of basalt, of which there are several extensive rocks displaying ranges of some hundreds of columns, in different directions. Limestone, ironstone, and coal abound in the eastern districts, the last in such quantity as not only to supply the home command, but also, by means of th Forth and Clyde canal, to furnish Edinburgh with that artical at a very moderate price. The principal coal mines are in the Lennox hills, and there are mines likewise in the immediate vinicity of the canal. Copper and lead ore, and cobalt have been raised, but not in considerable quantities; and some veins of silver were were wrought towards the close of the last century. There are numerous coppices of natural wood in the county, and at Torwood and Callendar some remains of the ancient Caldonian forest. The timber is chiefly oak, beech, birch, and hazel; some of the oaks are of very large growth,and all the trees thrive well in the soil. On the whole there are about 1350 acres of natural wood. Extensive plantations, also, have been formed, which are in a flourishing condition; they consist of oak, ash, elm, beech, pine, larch, and spruce and Scotch firs. In this county the seats are Airth Castle, Airthrey Castle, Alva Buchanan House, Callendar Craigforth Culcreueh, Dunmore Park, Gargunnock Glorat, Kerse, Kincaid, Kinnaird, Leckie, Lennox Castle, Westquarter, and numerous others. The principal manufacture is that of cast and malleable iron goods, for which there is a most extensive and ably conducted establishment on the banks of the river Carron, which is noticed under the head of Carron, where these celebrated works are situated. There are ironworks likewise at Falkirk, in which about 700 persons are employed. The nail-manufacture is also carried on in several of the villages. The woollen-manufacture is extensive; the chief articles are carpets, coarse woollen cloths, and tartars. There are manufactories for cotton goods, and paper copperas and alum works distilleries and other establishments. Facility of communication is afforded by good roads throughout the county; by the Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Scottish Central, and the Slamannan railways by the Forth and Clyde canal, and the Union canal. Much commerce is carried on at the port of Grangemouth, on the Firth of Forth, with Norway, Sweden, and the Baltic, in timber, hemp, tallow, iron, flax, and grain. Ship-building is pursued here to considerable extent; and the number of vessels registered as belonging to the port in a late year was 179, of the aggregate burthen of 26,561 tons. A number of vessels, varying from thirty-five to fifty tons, also belong to the port of Stirling. There are steam-packets for passengers, luggage-steamers, and other facilities of intercourse. The total annual value of real property in the county, as assessed to the income tax, is 279,705 pounds sterling, of which 181,147 pounds sterling are returned for lands, 63,559 pounds sterling for houses, 16,678 pounds sterling for mines, 16,199 pounds sterling for iron-works, 1203 pounds sterling for fisheries, and the remainder for quarries. Among the monuments of antiquity are several Roman camps; and a conical building supposed to have been of Roman origin, though from its form it acquired the appellation of Arthur's Oven, remained in a very perfect state till about the middle of the eighteenth century when it was removed. Portions of the wall of Antonine are to be seen in various parts, and also traces of Roman roads, of which one of the most perfect leads to Camelon, supposed to have been the principal station of the Romans in this part of Britain. In the county are numerous Pictish forts, several Druidical remains, and various ruins of ancient castles, of which Castleeary, said to have been originally a Roman fortress, and those of Torwood, Colzium and Rough Castle are among the principal. The castle of Stirling, also of great antiquity, and which in the time of the Stuarts was made a royal residence, is still preserved as a royal garrison. There are remains of the ancient abbey of Cambuskenneth, founded by David I and of several other religion homes founded by succeeding kings of Scotland, among which are the convent of Dominican Friars established by Alexander II., and the Franciscan monastery by James IV. Numerous cairns and tumult are to be seen; and remains of Roman pottery, colas, and other relics of antiquity, have been discovered at various times. SURNAMES OF THE MONTH - This month the Irish surnames taken from EDWARD MacLYSAGHT's book "IRISH FAMILIES Their Names, Arms & Origins", SciPrint Limited, Copyright Irish Academic Press Limited, ISBN # 0-7165-2364-7 are: MacCARTHY no other Irish Mac name approaches MacCarthy in numerical strength. The abbreviated form Carthy is fairly common, but MacCarthy is a name which has very generally retained the prefix. It is among the dozen commonest names in Ireland as a whole, due to the very large numbers of MacCarthys in Co. Cork which accounts for some sixty per cent of them. Charles O'Conor describes the sept as "the most eminent by far of the noble families of the south". The name from the earliest times has been associated with south Munster or Desmond. The third century King of Munster, Oilioll Olum. had two sons Eoghan and Cormac Cas. At his death North Munster (Thomond) was inherited by the latter (whence the Dalcassians), and South Munster (Desmond) by Eoghan. The families which descended from this Eoghan were known, before the introduction of surnames, as the Eoghanacht, and the surnames MacCarthy (in Irish Mac Carthaigh) is derived from Carthach, lord of the Eoghannacht, who, the Four Masters tell us, met his death in a house deliberately set on fire by one of the Lonergans in 1045. The number of references to the MacCarthys in the Annals, especially the "Annals of Innisfallen", is very great. This Carthach was the son of Saorbreathach, a Gaelic name which is anglicized as Justin, and in the latter form has been in continuous use among various branches of MacCarthys for centuries. Another Christian name similarly associated with them is Finghin, anglice Fineen, but for some centuries past, for some obscure reason, Florence (colloquially Flurry) has been used as the English form. From the thirteenth century, when Fineen MacCarthy decisively defeated the Geraldines in 1261, clown to the present day, Fineen or Florence MacCarthys and Justin MacCarthys have been very prominent among the many distinguished men of the name in Irish military, political and cultural history. Fineen (Florence) MacCarthy (1572-1640), Chief of the MacCarthy Reagh branch of the sept, after a term of service in the army of Queen Elizabeth, spent much of his time a prisoner in the Tower of London where, being a man of great erudition, he wrote a history of ancient Ireland. Rev. Dr. Florence MacCarthy (1761-1810), V.G. of Cork, and Denis Florence MacCarthy (1817-1882), poet, were others of note. Justin MacCarthy (d.1694), created Earl of Mountcashell by James II, commander of a regiment in that King's army in Ireland and, subsequently, of the Irish Brigade in France; Justin Count MacCarthy( 1744-1812), famous book-collector in France where he was enobled by Louis XVI; Justin MacCarthy 1830-1912), novelist, historian and politician, and his son, Justin Huntley MacCarthy (1861-1936), also a writer of note' are a few of the many men chastened Justin. Cormac (or Charles) is another Christian name common among MacCarthys, especially in the Muskerry branch. One, who died in 1640, was created Viscount Muskerry; his father, also Cormac MacCarthy (d.1616) served under Carew at Kinsale; another Cormac MacCarthy (d.1536), known as lord of Muskerry, grandfather of the last named, a soldier of note, was in his day favourable to the English interest. In modern times a Charles MacCarthy (1873-1921), was noteworthy as an American political scientist: he was the son of a Fenian emigrant. When we remember, moreover, that in 1172 the MacCarthy Mor of the day did homage to Henry II, and another MacCarthy Mor accepted the earldom of Glencar from Queen Elizabeth, it would appear that the leading men of the various branches of the sept have little claim to be regarded as Irish heroes, though in this connexion it must not be forgotten that the modern conception of nationality and nationalism was non-existent until the end of the seventeenth century. On the other hand Viscount Muskerry was a member of the Supreme Council of Confederate Catholics in 1646, and MacCarthy Reagh with two others of the name was also in the Commons of that body; Muskerry, indeed, was expressly exempted from pardon by the Cromwellian authority in 1652. Lady Eleanor MacCarthy, too, has an honoured place in Irish history for her protection of Garrett Fitzgerald after the murder of his five uncles by Henry Vlll in 1537 Passing reference has been made above to different branches of the MacCarthy sept. MacCarthy Mor was located at Kerry and the direct line was thought to be extinct. (On the death of the last of the senior line in 1773 the MacCarthy Mor estates passed to the family of his maternal grandfather, Herbert de Kilcow. Their beautiful Muckross estate, near Killarney, is now the property of the nation, through the Bourne-Vincent Trust. The style MacCarthy Mor used in France by a cousin, has long disappeared. Search for nearly 120 years for the descendants of an earlier MacCarthy Mor has in 1957, at last been successful and one junior branch has been traced to Montreal). MacCarthy Reagh was of Carbery in West Cork; while the Muskerry branch were in the barony of Muskerry in that county: the famous Blarney Castle was the chief's principal residence. There were also minor branches known as Glas etc. The name Carty is not as a rule an abbreviation of MacCarthy, but is more often the appellation of the small and scattered sept of O'Carty. (0)CASEY, (MacCasey) There were originally at least six distinct and unrelated septs of O Cathasaigh: the most important of these in early times were respectively lords of the Suaithni (whose territory comprised the modern barony of Balrothery West, Co. Dublin) and erenaghs of Devenish, Co. Fermanagh; both these, however, have long been dispersed though the name is not uncommon in the former of these places. It is chiefly found now in the south-west of Munster, and also, in smaller numbers, in north Connacht. These two areas correspond with the locations of four of the septs mentioned above: one of these was Dalcassian and was seated at Liscannon near Bruff in Co. Limerick, and another near Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, while the third and fourth were in Tirawley, Co. Mayo, where they were erenaghs of Kilarduff, and in Co. Roscommon where they were erenaghs of Clondara in the barony of Athlone. The interesting archaeological remains called "Casey's Lios" at Ballygunnermore indicate the residence of Caseys near Waterford. The so-called census of 1659 indicates that the name was then quite numerous in that county, but mainly in the south-western corner of it; from the same source we learn that the O'Caseys or, as they were then usually called, the O'Cahassys were, at that time, principally found in Co. Limerick and adjacent areas. The best known people of the name are Admiral Joseph Gregory O'Casey (1787-1862) of a Co. Limerick family, Minister of Marine in the Government of France John Keegan Casey (1846-1870), poet and Fenian, and Sean O'Casey (b.1884), Dublin labourer and famous playwright. Five minor poets of the nineteenth century, as well as John Keegan Casey, are included in O'Donoghue's Poets of Ireland In addition to the O'Caseys dealt with above there was also a sept of MacCasey, located at Oriel: few survivors of this are to be found today, but in the mediaeval period it was numerous in Co. Monaghan and three bishops named MacCasey occupied the see of Clogher in the fourteenth century. This month the Scottish surnames taken from Roddy Martine's "SCOTTISH CLAN AND FAMILY NAMES Their Arms, Origins and Tartans", Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh and London, 1992, ISBN # 1-85158-418-8 are: GORDON The earliest record of the name Gordon in Scotland was in the late twelfth century and related to the parish of Gordon in the Merse in Berwickshire. Adam de Gordon was a Anglo-Norman, and was with King Louis x' of France in the Crusades in 1270 Under Robert Bruce, Sir Adam, Lord of Gordon, acquired the lordship of Strathbogie in Banffshire. He died at the battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. His great-grandson died at the battle of Homildon in 1402 leaving a daughter, Elizabeth, as heiress. She married Sir Alexander Seton, second son of Sir William Seton of Seton, and their son was creased 1st Earl of Huntly in 1449. For the next century the Gordons held autocratic sway over the Highlands and James IV was a frequent visitor to Huntly Castle, which until 1544 had been known as Strathbogie Castle. The 4th Earl had aspirations to marry one of his sons to Mary, Queen of Scots, and through a series of misunderstandings there was a rebellion which brought about the collapse of Gordon power after their defeat at Corrichie. The 5th Earl also rebelled against James VI in 1594, and much of Huntly Castle was blown up as a result. Three years later, the 5th Earl succeeded in making peace with his monarch and he became 1st Marquess of Huntly The dukedom was created in 1684, but in 1836 the 5 th Duke died without issue. The nearest heir, George, became 9th Marquess of Huntly and Chief of the name. The Gordons of Haddo were created Earls of Aberdeen in I682 and are descended from Patrick Gordon of Methlic who fell at the battle of Arbroath in 1445. The 4th Earl was British Prime Minister, 1852-5. John, 7th Earl and 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, was Governor-General of Canada, 1893-8, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1905-15. John Gordon of Glenbuchat, known as 'Old Glenbucket' was a staunch Jacobite. Active in the uprisings of 1715 and 1745, he was forced to flee to Norway after Culloden and died abroad. George Gordon, 6th Lord Byron, the poet, was related to the Gordons of Gight. GRAHAM The first recorded Graham appears to be William de Graham, alive in the twelfth century, one of an illustrious Anglo-Norman family. There is a popular belief that the Grahams descend from 'Gramus', who demolished the wall built by the Roman Emperor Antoninus between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth, but completely dismissed by historians. William de Graham received the lands of Abercorn and Dalkeith from David I His descendants acquired the lordships of Kinnabar and Old Montrose in 1325, and Sir William Graham married Mary, second daughter of Robert Patrick, their eldest grandson, became Lord Graham, then 1st Earl of Montrose in 1504. James, 5th Earl, was the celebrated 1st Marquis who supported Charles I and Charles II against the Commonwealth. He was a brilliant military leader and wrote some remarkable poetry. James, 4th Marquis, was created 1st Duke of Montrose, and played a significant part in the restoration of tartan. Another member of the clan was John of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, 'Bonnie Dundee', the persecutor of the Covenanters and staunch Jacobite campaigner, who died a hero at the battle of Killiecrankie fighting against the troops of William of Orange in 1 689. Old Claverhouse Castle, Dundee, was the birthplace of John Graham of Claverhouse and the spot where the castle stood is marked by a dovecot. this has been comnumber of notable Braco Castle in Perth shire was a seat of the Grahams of Braco in the seventeenth century. Kincardine Castle, near Auchterarder, was the seat of the Graham Earls of Strathearn, but passed to the Grahams of Montrose. The original castle was dismantled by the Marquis of Argyll in 1645 Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran passed to the Montrose family through marriage with the daughter of the 12th Duke of Hamilton. USEFUL WEB PAGES Below are some Web pages you may want to visit to help with your research. They contain a lot of useful information as well as links to other Web pages you can visit. If you like what you see here and want to go back, make sure you add them to your Favorite Places before you leave. Subject: Guildhall Library I haven't seen this address before, and thought that some might find it useful. The Guildhall Library has a website: http://ihr.sas.ac.uk/ihr/ghmnu.html. Lots of information on what is in the Library. They also have a E-Mail address: Manuscripts.Guildhall@ms.corpoflondon.gov.uk. They will take enquiries, but cannot do lengthy research. Helen Wentworth Subject: 1st Glasgow Directory Online! Hello Everyone! Just dropping in to let you know I have the 1st Directory of Glasgow for 1787 now on my website for all to read. There will be other info from the same source added later, when time permits. Go to my website at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/2100/ and click on Starweaver's Library where you will find this directory listed under Directories. Hope you all find someone you are looking for. Luck and Laughter! Subj: 1766 Ahoghill Religious Census The 1766 Ahoghill Religious Census is now available for viewing on the WorldGenWeb County Antrim page at http://www.dsenter.com/worldgenweb/Britain/Ireland/antrim/antrim.htm Many thanks to Herb Abrams for this valuable contribution Melanie WorldGenWeb County Antrim Host ON THE WEB Subj: NEW Searchable Canadian Genealogical Databases Check the inGeneas website for the FREE National Archives of Canada Miscellaneous Immigration Index. This is the only electronic version of the 15,000-record list in existence. This database contains information from records dating from 1802 to 1849. URL http://www.ingeneas.com/free/index.html The website also features two databases developed by inGeneas: * the inGeneas Passenger List database contains 5,500 records from passenger manifests for immigrants arriving in Canada between 1751 to 1873 * the inGeneas Immigration database contains 5,800 records derived from assorted Canadian immigration documents (different than those recorded in the National Archives of Canada index)for the time period of 1748 to 1855 Note: to recoup some of the considerable costs related to the creation of our inGeneas databases, we charge a small fee for records from our databases; all fees are clearly stated on the order forms. However, the records in the National Archives of Canada database are available absolutely free of charge. We will be constantly adding to the inGeneas databases; we hope you will be frequent visitor! URL http://www.ingeneas.com/free/index.html inGeneas Canadian Genealogical Research Services and Searchable Databases www.ingeneas.com Subject: James O'KEEFE I am seeking information about James O'Keefe who from RIC records was born in Newcastle West Co. Limerick in 1860. Served with the RIC from 19 August,1879 until 31 July, 1882. Joined Montreal Police 20 September, 1882. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Rod O'Connor Subj: Irish Police Records Greetings from Ireland. Records of those who were members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) or Dublin Metropolitan Police can be obtained by writing to Jim Herlihy. Contact;- Garda Jim Herlihy, Blarney Garda Station, Blarney, County Cork, Ireland. Jim has written a book on the RIC titled "The RIC" (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 1997). The book will be launched by the present Commissioner of the Garda Siochana at Dublin Castle tomorrow at a cermony which commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Garda Síochána and the official opening of the Garda Museum at Dublin Castle. The Garda Museum was previously housed at Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. The Irish Constabulary was granted the title of Royal by Queen Victoria for their part in quashing the 1867 Fenian Rising and became the Royal Irish Constabulary. The RIC was disbanded after the War of Independence (also known as the Anglo-Irish War) in 1922 and Commissioner Michael Staines marched his new police force "The Civic Guard" (later renamed "Garda Siochana" - Guardians of the peace in Ireland) through the gates of Dublin Castle on 17 August 1922. The service records for the first 8,000 members of the Garda Siochana (Ireland's national police force) are stored at the Garda Museum in Dublin Castle. Contact;- Sergeant John Duffy, The Curator, Garda Museum/Archives, Records Tower, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, Ireland. Records of members of the Garda Siochana who joined after the first 8,000 are stored at B Branch, Garda Headquarters. Contact;- Commissioner, B Branch (Records), Garda Siochana Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ireland. Further information on the RIC can be got by visiting my website at; The Garda Siochana Historical Society http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/7900/index.html or by visiting the Royal Ulster Constabulary's website at; Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Museum http://www.ruc.police.uk/museum/start.htm The Garda Siochana Historical Society are always delighted to hear from anyone that has information to share regarding the history of policing in Ireland. If you have any information, email me at James Groarke Subj: Ulster American Folk Park Database In a newsgroup someone pointed the way to this web page. The Saint John Times Globe has run an interesting series on the Irish potato famine. I refer to one of the articles below: FROM OLD WORLD TO NEW, DATABASE TRACKS THE IRISH 13,000 DOCUMENTS: A motherlode of information on Irish emigration is nestled in the memory of a Northern Ireland folk park's computer system. The four Pentium-powered computers at the Ulster American Folk Park in Northern Ireland know more about Irish emigration than any historian alive. The folk park's library boasts an Emigration Database which holds 13,000 emigration-related documents including passenger lists, letters home, journals, items in newspapers, Hansard references and magazine articles. http://www.nbpub.nb.ca/IRISH/INDEX.HTM Best regards to all, Subj: Re: More info on Carrickfergus-Church leaders "Liam G. Mc Faul" also sends these. Please thank him. LM Established Clergy 1802, Thomas Graves; in 1811 he exchanged livings with the Rev.Theophilus Blakely; 1811, Theophilus Blakely; in 1824 he removed to Achonry, having exchanged deaneries with the Very Rev. William Green, dean of that place; 1825, Henry Lesley, formerly Rector of Ahoghill, having exchanged livings with the Rev. William Green, late Dean of Achonry, inducted January 29th; 1839, John Chaine, on the resignation of Dean Lesley, inducted 24th March 1839 and read assent and consent on the following day. Unitarian, Covenanting and Independent Ministers The first minister ordained to the Unitarian congregation was the Rev. William Malcolm in 1835; he continued in the congregation but 1 year. The present minister, the Rev. James Nixon Porter, was ordained in 1838. The Rev. John Paul, the present minister, has had charge of the Covenanting congregation since its formation in 1805. Independent ministers: The first was the Rev. George Hamilton, ordained in 1816; He was succeeded by the Rev. William Flinter in 1817; The Rev. John McAssey, the present minister, in 1838, Catholic Clergy The following are the only Roman Catholic clergy who have been known to officiate here since the Reformation: 1717, James Sheil, 1729, Bonr. Boylane, Franciscan friars; 1732, [blank] Moore; 1739, [blank] Cairns; 1757, Edward Mcllea; 1761, Felix Scullion; 1788, James McCarey; 1802, Thomas Cassidy; 1813, Constantine Boyle; 1814, Daniel McMullan 1820, Arthur O'Neill. Extracted from the Report on County Antrim by James Boyle 1839-1840 Ordnance Survey Memoirs (Parish of Carrickfergus) Subject: Re: Advice on Crest (Coat of Arms) From: churchyh@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Henry Churchyard) In article <33F49162.66F8@spam-free.ca>, MacKay wrote: I recently wrote the Court of Lord Lyon, Keeper of the Records, in Edinburgh, concerning an engraving on some old family silver and a seal. We were led to believe that my 3rd great grandfather, John Thomson brought the silver and seal over with him to Canada prior to the birth of his first child, Andrew, in 1829. The kind people at the Court of Lyons determined that the Crest and Motto engraved on the silver was recorded in 1854 in the name of Robert Thomas Thomson, Captain in the 1st or Kings Dragoon Guards, the eldest son of Robert Thomson of Camphill in Renfrew by his wife Mary. My questions ; When a Crest is recorded does this mean that that particular crest did not exist before? Is it recorded only once or might it be recorded by another Thomson at an earlier date? Is it possible that the Crest was around and part of the family but not official until 1854? First off, the proper name for the thing in question is "Coat of Arms", not "Crest". (The "Crest" actually is the thing on the top of the helmet which is on top of the shield; many coats of arms don't even have a crest associated with them.) Yes, it is possible for a coat of arms to be used informally in a family before being made official. Another thing to keep in mind is that Scotland has a special system of heraldry whereby younger sons transmit to their children a slightly modified or "differenced" coat of arms, so that there can be several similar but slightly different coats of arms that belong to different branches of a Scottish family. The real Usenet experts in this area hang out on rec.heraldry; you could ask your question there... Subject: Re: IGI, Parish and Vital Records Listing: Any analysis? Charles Ellson wrote: In article <869920680.16262.0.nnrp-5.c2de83bc@news.demon.co.uk> colin@blanshard.demon.co.ukx writes: Has anyone done a county by county analysis of the Parish and Vital Records listing, so that one can see at a glance the % of each county extracted so far?> For Scotland it should be 100% of existing records (up to 1875), **That is correct as far as it goes, but the IGI (and the Scottish Church Records cd-rom/OPR Index microfiche) concentrate on the registers of the established (i.e. national) church, in this case The Church of Scotland. Omitted are all the secession churches (unless their registers ended up with the C. of S. ), the Free Church (from 1843), Baptists, Scottish Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Quaker, and so on. And of course the death registers were ignored by the Mormons, although there are many on the Scottish OPR films. There's an *awful* lot not in the IGI.! Gordon. Gordon Johnson's homepage - http://www.wintermute.co.uk/~kinman/ (With Scottish genealogical goodies) FROM OUR MEMBERS Subj: News for the Irish & Scot Newsletter Thanks for the latest newsletter. Great job! For the next newsletter: THANK YOU!!!! Because of the overwhelming e-mail response from the Irish & Scot Newsletter readers to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, they are going to publish the Harshaw Diaries!!!!!!! Thank you readers!!!! Believe me, if you have an ancestor from the Southern part of Co. Down between 1830-1870, you may find them in this diary and be thrilled like I am that the Harshaw Diaries are being published! I quote from the author of the transcription of the diaries: "Jane Fiske, the Director of Publications, told me that the committee met last week and she had meant to call me earlier. She said...their interest had been much aroused by the number of requests that had appeared on their internet site. She asked me how I had organized the campaign and I told her how it had come about. Thanks loads!!!! I asked her how many messages they got. She didn't know how many came altogether, but they got 11 in one day!! She was very impressed when I told her how you had pulled it off without even telling me that you were doing it. She thought it was very funny how I found out." [I never told her I was going to put in the article in the Newsletter--another subscriber forwarded it to her to read about a month later!] "It will take about 2 months to get them printed after I deliver the disks...there will be 2 volumes....they are also going to give me a copy of the indexing program that they use. It will allow for an index of people, places and subject.... They are also planning to find a distributor in Ireland. If I get to work quickly, I might be able to have them published before the year is out." "Do thank the people who copied to you. They were successful!! Thank you so much for your help." So, thank you Newsletter subscribers! 1400 pages of 40 years of Irish history in Co. Down will be available from HisGen hopefully later in the year. Pieces of the diary are also being included in an article in the Irish/American Magazine and in the Irish in America PBS TV Series, so watch for them! (Don't know dates...) The author of the transcription, who saved the diaries for us all to read rather than for some collector to keep private for him/herself, is Marjorie Harshaw Robie in Massachusetts. She typed the entire handwritten diary out herself and THEN hoped that HisGen would publish it. She is the one who donated the original diaries to Ireland. (HisGen has a microfilm copy of the diaries.) Thank you again!!! Suzballard@aol.com (Suzanne Ballard) (PS: I do not receive any monetary benefit from the publication of the diaries--just total satisfaction that MY ancestor's diary will be made public for you, me and all Irish/Americans.) So--Joyce--hope you can include this in the next issue--edited as you see fit. Thanks again for the wonderful publicity and help!!!! Suzanne Ballard From the Editors: The real credit for this accomplishment goes to our readers and the way they responded to your request. We are just glad that we were able to help in our small way. :) TO THE EDITORS: Over the years we have received many e-mails that thank us for our efforts concerning the newsletter or maps that we have been uploading. In this issue we would like to share a few of them with you. Below are just a few: From: iammaura@aol.com (IamMaura) Just wanted to thank you for all your efforts with the Maps. They are very handy indeed. Maura From: MBrown2205 Thanks so much! These have so much good information. Keep up the good work. From: DeanCosmo Thanks once again for the newsletter. I am keeping a complete file and use them often. From: JWaters539 Thanks for the SI newsletter. I always enjoy them. From the editors: We want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that has sent us e-mail over the last several years with words of encouragement. Your kind words kept us trying to make this newsletter the best we can possibly make it. We would also like to encourage you to send us ideas on how to improve it more. We would like this newsletter to reflect what you want to see and what you feel you need. Let us know how you use the newsletter to help in your research so we can share that with all our readers. We will feature these ideas in a "To the Editor" section of the newsletter from time to time depending on the amount of input we receive. John and I would like to thank all of you again for your encouragement and support. It has meant more to us than words could ever express.