Old Dog - New Trick

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:25 am

We're forever harping on about keeping a very open mind while searching for surnames.

However, a wee trick I had not investigated fully (except for Greenock, Grenock) presented itself to me last week.

I was Googling for "Rathlin" (as is my wont) but had somehow typed "ROTHLIN" and got a good few results I didn't recognise. On further investigation I found a 1714 Rathlin line that I didn't have (except for the birth of the Root, Francis McHenry) and managed to add 64 folk to the database after checking to my satisfaction. This line indicates a close relationship to the McHenry after whom Fort McHenry, Pennsylvania, is named, but I can't find a convincing link (yet).

Anyway, I then tried Rothland, Raithin, Raithlun, Rathlun etc. on various search engines and online databases and have managed to boost the Roll Call for the Rathlin Directory by over 200!!!! (with more to look into)

Anyone who has been in this game a while knows that there comes a time when information becomes very sparce and you may go weeks, months or years before getting a breakthrough. 200+ individuals during a week of lunch breaks is a SIGNIFICANT number of finds and all based on bad typing.

I've also seen Rathlin transcribed as Kathlin and another few "K" varients so I'll be busy during my lunch breaks for a few more days.

Thought my wee bit of serendipity may help out some others.

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:21 am

Wow!!

Thanks for sharing that, Andy. Definitely worth keeping in mind.

I'm amazed at the number of times we manage a leap forward in research "by accident".

Guess you're going to be busier than usual in the next few days, weeks.

Happy searching
Catriona

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:04 pm

Congratulations Andy!......I'm more than a wee bit worried though that you'll be falling away to nothing

....Have you found a way then to eat lunch and type on a keyboard at the same time?....Maybe you could share this invention with all of us who grab those precious minutes where we can

Thanks for the encouragement.....

Best wishs
Jean

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:00 pm

Hi Jean,

I've got special Chocolate keyboards so I type with my teeth

Hence the mistakes

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:14 pm

You're BRILLIANT!

.......but I just tried that and the only letters I could make were M & M..........

.................(ok back to work everyone...show's over )