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Rusty, thank you for your replies. Yes, I unearthed the Bamfords of Ramult only recently, thanks to a Bible my mother had. But I had NO idea there were so many others.

As to the Bryans, the trail went cold in Canada--until three days ago when I ran across a surrogate court record for a man, Richard Bryans, who claimed MY William Bryans, shoemaker, as his brother. He also named as brothers a John Bryans, cooper, and a James Bryans, farmer, all in Canada. Alone, I admit that isn't much to go on as every other Bryans in Ireland was a John or a James.

So I slogged some more and found a  John Bryans, cooper, b. 1812 in Ireland, who married Ann Jane Noble in Canada in 1840. I also found a James Bryans, farmer, b. 1813 in Ireland, who married Mary (b. 1811). They bore five children in Ireland before emigrating to Canada: John, Thomas, Ellen, William, and Ann. Ann, the youngest, was born in 1844.

As for Richard, records indicate he was born in 1816 (possibly in England), worked as a painter, and was a widower. His late wife was not mentioned, and there was no issue. I have done no search for Mary Bryans Gallagher yet.

I can't think of anything else to tell. The Bible was short on information: William and Margaret were Anglican, as were James and Mary. John and Ann Jane were Wesleyan Methodist, and Richard claimed to be Episcopalian. 

I hope you have among your notes something that might give me a clue. I've noted that a lot of Bryans lurked in the Galloon area--but they weren't exclusive to Galloon. Anything is sure to help--even if it's just how to slog smarter instead of harder.

I need more sleep...

Margaret