This is the simplest example I can come up with:

var content = '<h2>SomeText</h2><input id="trapName" />';
                var xx = $(content).find('#trapName');

>>It's a standalone fragment - not associated (and cannot be) with the main DOM (which, I believe, is the default context for JQuery).
>>
>
>So, you're saying you tried finding it by its name only and it didn't work, right?
>
>
>>>Why you can not use what Craig posted? Why do you need to access it through the parent?
>>>
>>>Here are few samples from my code:
>>>
>>>

>>>$(document).ready(function () {
>>>    $(":input[data-autocomplete]").each(function () {
>>>        $(this).autocomplete({ source: $(this).attr("data-autocomplete") });
>>>    });  
>>>
>>>    $("form div input").focus(function () {
>>>
>>>        $("form div").each(function () {
>>>            $(this).css("background-color", "white");
>>>        });
>>>
>>>        $(this).parent().css("background-color", "#F2FAED");
>>>        $(this).select();
>>>        $('.SelectOnEntry').focusin(function () {
>>>            $(this).select();
>>>        });
>>>    });
>>>
>>>    $("input:text")
>>>        .focus(function () { $(this).select(); })
>>>        .mouseup(function (e) { e.preventDefault(); });
>>>});
>>>

>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I know how to manipulate it - the problem is that I cannot get a reference to it. Note 'content' in this case is not the default context (the dom document) but a seperate html fragment and $(content).find('#trapName') returns zero results....
>>>>
>>>>>You can address the element directly
>>>>>
>>>>>$("#trapName")
>>>>>
>>>>>If you want to get the value, use
>>>>>var value = $("#trapName).val();
>>>>>
>>>>>To set the value
>>>>>$("#trapName).val("New value");
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I think there is something wrong with my understanding of JQuery (which is pretty elemental at best).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I have a fragment of html. Jquery sees it as this:

$(content): jQuery.fn.jQuery.init[3]
>>>>>>0: h2
>>>>>>1: text
>>>>>>2: input#trapName
>>>>>>length: 3
>>>>>>__proto__: Object[0]

so I thought I could access the input element with

$(content).find('#trapName')

but it finds nothing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Any clues. Note this fragment is not in the DOM - but should that matter?