Dear Barbara, You're right, it's got to be in England, (none in Scotland) and of course it's 'Bark'-shire as pronounced. (#}:0)) BTW, recently when I was about to start writing mine up a sudden take-off occurred. Would you believe, my maternal line by a lucky fluke has been checked back to- wait for it, 1581. Noo think aboot that! It was the shock of finding a southerner in my pedigree. that brought it on. I found my maternal granny and her siblings and parents in 1881. Her Dad came from Sussex. A cousin took this info and contacted a person down there and we got a ready researched line. It happens, it really does. We are on a countdown now to return to England. We were over for the Riding at Langholm and the Gather. Came over to Belgium in September and are about to go back. I have a magazine to get out. Rita and I had a lovely holiday a while back and we've been doing the rounds of the family and friends over here. By next Thursday we'll be to our other 'home' and it will be much cooler than here. We are having a lovely late summer here, it was 20 degrees C today, about 70F. On October 4th! Hope you are well, seems like years since you were last in Scotland. Maybe it was, <Grin>. BTW, County boundaries have changed over the centuries, Wantage is now In Oxfordshire according to my road atlas. It's about 20 miles soutj and slightly west of Oxford City. Good luck. Rita and Joe in Belgium.