>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).

Just a suggestion - have you tried asking on jQuery forum? I got a few good answers there when I need them.