Jeff wrote:
Sorry Neal, there is no complelling evidence that St. Patrick's family
was actually from Rome, though they were certainly middle class or
higher. The fact that his father was a local official and they had
Latin names means little.


True... being a "local official" in the Roman administration of Britain
would mean that he was a military officer, which would mean that he was
an ass-kicker who acquired some education & management skills. Could
have been from anywhere, and adopted a Roman name.

Of course, it doesn't prove that St Patrick's family was *not* Roman,
either.

DSK