Melissa lives in Philadelphia and is primarily researching the Irish Catholic Gordon, Armstrong and Seery families in the Wilmington area. Specifically, she's searching the origins of James Gordon born c.1827, who presumably emigrated to Philadelphia in 1844 on the "Solon" from Derry, possibly indicating a birthplace somewhere in the Ulster region. James Gordon married Mary Ann Armstrong, whose birthplace in Ireland is also unknown, in Wilmington. James and his sons all worked for the railroad.

Patrick Seery was from Kilmurry Townland, Daingean RC parish, in County Offaly. He emigrated, married Ellen McDonald (daughter of Richard McDonald and Mary Ratican - both of whose origins in Ireland are unknown ) in Philadelphia, and ultimately settled in Wilmington. Patrick worked as a "carriage trimmer" or upholsterer for McCabe and Darragh for about 40 years.

Her Philadelphia roots include the families of: Cronin of Kanturk, County Cork; Bolger of Mullinavat, County Kilkenny; McKeo(w)n of Caltra, County Galway; Quigg of Moville, County Donegal; Hines of Kinvarra, County Galway; Kelly of Mullaghmore, County Sligo; and McDonald of Creggan, County Tyrone.

Melissa can be contacted at: mag_psu@rocketmail.com