This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: janemaryglenn Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.oceania.australia.vic.general/11682.2.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Mary, Thank you for your help with this. John Smith and Sophia Wright can be found on the 1841 and 1851 census at 53 High Street, Poplar, London, with various children. Joseph appears first as a 3 year old in 1851 then in 1861, Sophia and Joseph are visitors at Catterson Smith's residence (Catterson Smith , born 1830, son of John and Sophia Smith, shown in 1861 as a widower with 2 children of his own). I am assuming John Smith, who was a draper, died between 1851 and 1861 though I am still looking for a death certificate. In military records, we have Joseph Ambrose joining the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1868, giving his sister Emma as next of kin. As you can see, I have quite a lot of information about this Smith family but am trying to confirm that this Joseph Ambrose is the same one that married Mary Brown in Australia in 1895. Joseph's military record is not easy to translate (handwriting and ageing documents) but my interpretation is that he was discharged in 1889 after 21 yea! rs of service and that is when I lose him. I have Joseph and Mary's marriage certificate and he states he is a 48 year old bachelor, born in London, parents John Smith, Merchant and MARY, nee Wright. It is the name MARY that cause me to doubt it is the same family, although I know it is possible for children to get their parents names wrong - for example, Mary put her father down as Henry Brown on one marriage certificate and John Brown on the next and I am confident it is the same Mary Brown, complete with signature. I cannot find when Joseph Ambrose Smith either left England or India (where he was last with the 6th Dragoon Guards) and arrived in Australia and that is my sticking point. Any suggestions would be gratefully received! One pointer was that Joseph's death certificate may have stated "time in colony" but it doesn't. I am awaiting Joseph Ambrose Smith's birth certificate from England (frustrating that I can't view and download online but there you are) which! may throw some light on Sophia/Mary Wright. Best regards, Jane Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>