Since John Paul Jones is such a famous American hero, undoubtedly many people think they are related. Do you know of any genealogy data base that relates with John Paul Jones. My mother-in-law, now 83, claims that her grandmother who's maiden name is Laura Virginia Jones born in 1859 in Baltimore was a relative. Can you help me find info on the family tree of John Paul Jones?
Robert Edwards

Editor's Reply: Very sorry to burst the family genealogy bubble, but Jones' real name was John Paul. He added the surname, historians suggest, when he was on the run from a murder trial. He had no children, at least officially, though his sisters in Scotland did. Unless your grandmother was a "Paul," you're barking up the wrong family tree. (JDR)

What are you guys trying to pull? That ain't the corpse of John Paul Jones. (click here to see for yourself) The picture is obviously Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, looking better than he has in years!
Jeff Landrock

AND MORE JPJ

I am looking for a detailed naval chart which shows the famous battle off Flamborough Head between The Bonnehomme Richard and the Serapis. Has one been published in any of the books about Jones ?.
Simon Cains

Editor's Reply: The diagram, I believe you are looking for is on Page 231 of Samuel Eliot Morison's John Paul Jones, A Sailor's Biography, Little Brown, 1959. It is out in paperback recently via the Naval Academy at Annapolis. They have a bookstore there. (JDR).

I just came to enter your contest but what a interesting, delightful site. The historical facts.. informative, and enjoyable .... Simply put, a favorite. Thank you
Mary Borland

You guys have a great site. I am just getting to know the internet and you guys provide just the right information that I need. Also, it is a great design.
C. Arthur Blair

I am an old Shoaler, aged 20. I was excited today to find out there was an actual web site about the Isles of Shoals. Thank you for bring the memories of these stories back for me.
Katie Aiello

SeacoastNH.com is great! What a web site. Its got everything. Its easy to use and has great pictures as well as well written summaries and articles. Keep up the good work!
Steve Jurentkuff

JUST ANOTHER WELL-WITCHER

I have a book called "Strange Superstitions" by Robert Ellis Cahill. It has a picture of Elroy Shaw drawing water from Goody Cole's witch well located near her home and grave. It says the water has healing properties. Could you tell me where the well is?
PRudni8906@aol.com

Editor's Reply: Poor Goody Cole, such a victim of local superstition. Her story takes place in Hampton (click for picture) But the well, we fear, is in the mind of the author.

I know for a fact my ancestor Robert Killough was involved as a merchant in oil and sturgeon on the islands, and his business was burnt down. Where can I look for old deeds? He lived there from 1720-1730 before moving on toward Pennsylvania.
G. Bork

Editor's Reply: The legal Isles of Shoals is divided between the towns of Rye, NH and Kittery, ME (click to see our map). Other island records are maintained by the Star Island Corp. of Boston (see Isles Hotlinks). You may also want to send $5 to join to ISHRA (Isles of Shoals Historical and Research Assoc.) at 174 Wednesday Hill Road, Lee, NH 03824. (JDR)

How may I get a copy of the Chronicles of Roger's Rangers? I am very interested in the colonial era of the Seacoast.
George Dubois

Editor's Reply: The notorious Robert Rogers married a Portsmouth girl, daughter of the local Anglican minister. Their Loyalist-loves-Revolutionary story would make a great mini-series. The best I could find in our local library was a 1946 volume by Burt Garfield Loescher called "The History of Rogers Rangers." (JDR)

My name is Christopher D. Lowe and I am writing in behalf of my father, Andrew C. Lowe, who does not have e-mail. Maren Hontvet [sole survivor of the murders at Smuttynose Island in 1873] is my great great grandmother and we have been researching our family tree. Of course, these murders are the most interesting thing we have come across. Where can we get the book by Lyman Rutledge, "Moonlight Murder at Smuttynose"?
Chris Lowe

Editor's Reply: It isn't a book exactly. More like a pamphlet, just 48 pages and printed by the Star Island Corp., 110 Arlington St., Boston MA, 02116. They have it in the gift shop on the hotel on Star in the summer. I got my copy from The Little Professor Book Center, 103 Congress St., Portsmouth, NH 03801. Phone # is 603-436-1777. (JDR)

(Follow-up letter from Jennifer, Chris' sister) I found how exactly I was related to Maren. After the murders she had a daughter, Claira (I am not sure of the spelling). Claira had a son, Francis (my grandfather). She died early on and Francis was raised by foster parents.
Jenn Lowe

PR OF-THE-MONTH-PLUG

The Fish House Foundation has been established by Alan Perkins, a Rye Beach to honor local promising students. The goal of the FHF is to raise $50,000. 1998 academic year, applications will be available this fall via local high school guidance counselors and the World-Wide Web. Interviews will be conducted in March and the recipients will be notified prior to the awards ceremony held in May.
Kathleen Ryan

BLACKS ON MALAGA?

Although it is really a question about the Maine coast, I wonder if any of you have any information about the island known as Malaga? I understand that it was inhabited by blacks I have not been able to find a lot of information about it.
Bob Barton

Editor's Reply: Though it is in Maine, I'm sure you don't mean the Malaga at the Isles of Shoals. I was there last week and it is just a pile of rocks. Valerie Cunningham says our Black History expert, says a second Malaga exists a little further up the coast and was populated by African Americans . She says to check "Tales of the New England Coast," pages. 185-186. To island was depopulated to "clean up" coastal areas for promotion of tourism during the Colonial Revival period. Valerie also suggests contacting Randy Stakeman, chair of Af-Am Studies Dept. at Bowdoin. We'll send along his phone number. (JDR)

Though I am writing as a student from Grinnell College in Iowa, I am a Dover resident by heritage. I say this because I am a member of the Tuttle family. I am a twelfth generation direct descendant of John Tuttle, who arrived in Dover with a royal land grant just nine years after Edward Hilton settled what is considered by many to be New Hampshire's oldest permanent settlement. The farm has now been in my family, passed from father to son, since 1632, making it America's oldest family farm. I am deeply rooted in my history and have very strong personal connections to Dover. I would think that the authors of the description of the seacoast's history would be inclined to include such a unique part of its history and heritage. After all, no other place in America can claim to be home of America's oldest family farm. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Evan Hourihan

Editor's Reply: Our short homage to the modern Tuttle's is included in our Seacoast video and the farm is clickable from our MAPS and Highlights section. But you are right. This is the story of a great American farming family, just waiting to be told -- send us info. (JDR)

I was hoping you would be able to send me information on Bonnie and Clyde. I'm really interested in this subject and I am doing a project on them.
Liz Melvin

Editor's Reply: Am I doing your homework? OK, here's a few links.