Does anyone have any fresh ideas for me to try - I feel like I'm running round in circles, and because I'm trying so hard to solve this 2-year old puzzle, I wonder if I've missed something? My great-grandfather Ralph FERRIE was born in Italy (?where). I'm not sure when, as his age varies so much in the different census' and on his 1942 death certificate - I have a timespan of 1851-1862. His brother Dominick FERRIE was born in Italy, too (the 1881 census for him states Naples) sometime around 1845-50. I have been told that the only info. the family have is that both walked across Europe to reach England. I can find neither brother in the 1871 census of Staffordshire, although both brothers declare children born in Staffordshire between 1872 and 1877. Dominick married Annie Evans, who gave her birthplace as Liverpool, and although there are records for his first child being born in Staffordshire in @ 1872, by 1883 he and Annie were living in Liverpool. Ralph married Matilda Malpass from Stafford - his first child was born in 1877 in Stafford, and he remained in Stafford and later Stone (which is near Stafford). Both families subsequently appear in the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census in Liverpool and Stafford. From this information, and their age ranges, I 'suppose' a date of immigration of @ 1868-70. I can find no record, either in the Civil Index or in the Parish Churches of a marriage for either brother. The likely RC Churches in Stafford likewise either don't have records for the appropriate dates, or there is no trace. I have no reason to believe that either of the spouses were Catholics. I had a professional researcher check the Naturalisation Index at the PRO, with no result (although the 1901 census states that Dominick was 'naturalised'). I obtained a copy of my great-grandfathers will, hoping that he might have left a legacy to his home town/village in Italy - but he didn't, unfortunately. To complicate things, there is no record of any family name of FERRIE in Italy, although both brothers always use the spelling in the census and on their children's birth certificates. I suppose that 'FERRI' is the most likely candidate - but that appears to be like looking for 'Smith' in England. Any advice? Please? Before I go mad? A Williams [email protected]