Guilty as charged! lol but have enjoyed reading everyone's posts unfortunately none have relevant information on my family interests, the answers to my several brick walls lay buried in Scotland, Ireland & Wales literally!! So have been spending most of my time trying unsuccessfully to find those 'hidden' clues, and suspect that only a trip to the relevant countries Record Offices will reveal answers - of course that trip depends on my winning the lotto!! LOL However have listed my surname interests just in case someone else 'lurking' has information. Still chasing: Bernard/Barnard McGOWAN - one source suggests born C 1812 Glasgow Scot. as that is where he was trialled/sentenced Sept 25. 1829 however can find no records of birth - parents names unknown; another suggestion was he was born in Ireland, but since I don't know parents names/county etc Irish websites have not been helpful. Bernard sailed from Sheerness on Marquis of Huntley Apr 4 1830 sentenced to 14 yrs transportation; I have the Oz family tree information since his arrival. Robert & Sinah EVANS - Know family lived in Llangynog Montgomeryshire Wales and via 1841 Census have found their children still at home then, my ancestor John Evans had left home prior to census, but I have his Oz history; Est. Robert born c1786 (age 55 in census), Sinah born c1791 (age 50 in census), unable to find 1. Sinah surname; 2. marriage record; death records for either. Edward & Mary GRIMES (nee McMullen) - believe married c1813 Co Roscommon Ireland; arr. Oz aboard "Hooghley" dep. Ireland 1827; believe he was one member of the 24 Royal Veterans Company aboard ship. unable to find parentage of either Edward/Mary; no death record for Edward & no record of return to UK. James & Rachel McCURDY (nee Richards) - very confused gentleman! claimed to be convict on "Tottenham" 1818 - no records/convict indents found, nor any record of being transported on convict ship; some believe James came to the colony under a different name which is unknown, and he maybe Irish!? James claimed on marriage cert to have come free to the colony but on everything else he states he was a convict!? 1828 Census noted 'Free by servitude; Catholic; Ship - Tottenham, Occ. Baker. Rachel RICHARDS - one very interesting lady & another identify crisis! convict arr Oz on "Lord Wellington" 1820; She had applied to the governor for permission to marry one John Haslam and then James McCurdy. Marriage register Dec 8 1823 McCurdy James - Rachel Richards; Rachel died 1873 aged 72 yrs at Lane Cove Road, her father was stated to be Richard Williams mother unknown on Death Cert. 1828 Census Surname as Richards/McCurdy. Enter John Haslam - to add more confusion! On his Cert. of Freedom May 1824, his wife stated to be Rachel Richards; also on Rachel's Cert of Freedom Mar. 1832 John Haslam was noted as husband. Maybe she was a bigamist? who knows! Thanks to everyone who has tried to help with my search of McGowan in the past but he along with the others remain a mystery to me and others researching them with whom I've had contact. Sharon Other names of interest: BULL - Isle of Wight; ROSER - Sussex Eng; MICKELBOROUGH - Norfolk Eng; Jenner - Norfolk Eng; BOWDITCH - Newingham Eng;