NSW BDM can be searched online for free - www.bdm.nsw.gov.au I did a search for births Stoops, 1852 - 1860 and came up with V18541165 52/1854 STOOPS FANNY ROBERT Buy Now 6252/1856 STOOPS WILLIAM A ROBERT MARGARET NEWCASTLE Buy Now You can use wildcards, as in my search for a death for st**ps which resulted in only one entry - 31/1858 STOOPS JAMES AGE 30 YEARS DIED SYDNEY SYDNEY Buy Now You can use "very" wildcards as in a death search in 1852 only, using only * for surname and Elizabeth for Given Name = 129 Elizabeth's registered as having died in 1852. Doesn't look like much joy for you in Sydney. You could get a transcription of the death registration ($15 from a transcriber - cheaper and much, much quicker than NSW BDMs). The occupation of James might give you some insight into why he was in Sydney. Regards Barbara