The DNA testing is paying off. Alex Barlow of Ireland tested and was a match to the Eckersley family. John Eckersley who has the DNA database for his surname has found the link that puts them together...see his letter to myself and Alex below. John Eckersley writes: I have at last found the link between the Eckersley's and the Lancashire Barlows - which hopefully proves that you and I are descended from the Lancashire Barlows (as your family had always suspected). It also shows that the lines of Barlows in the US which are similar to our signatures are thererefore descended directly from the Lancashire/Slebetch lines. Your and my common ancestor is Alexander Barlow b1414 Barlow Hall d aft 1466 because on your list of ancestors the next person is another Alexander while mine is Roger, presumably both sons of Alexander. The IGI shows my lineage as thus (I have summarised it): Robert de Barlow b c1275 Barlow Hall, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Lancashire, England | | Alexander BARLOW (m1434) Elizabeth ASHTON b1414 Barlow Hall b c 1428 of Mercey Bank, England d aft 1466 | | Roger BARLOW (m c 1491 Hulme Cheshire) Catherine PRESTWICK b1461 Barlow Hall b c 1463 Hulme, Cheshire d bef 1525 d aft 1525 | | | John BARLOW - Mary ECKERSALL / ECKERSLEY m John CROMPTON b1786 Unsworth b 1793 Unsworth | James ECKERSALL / ECKERSLEY b 1815 Unsworth | | John Thomas ECKERSLEY (m1893) Emma UNSWORTH | Richard Barrett ECKERSLEY | Peter Richard ECKERSLEY | John-Paul ECKERSLEY (me !) b1966 I know that mistakes are found on IGI but in this instance it is strange that both the genetics and the "paper" trail reinforce the same story. Feel free to ask about any of the above. So on that note I shall wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Best regards, John. John-Paul Eckersley Eckersley Surname Project Co-ordinator. LOOKING FOR BARLOWS BARLOW GENEALOGY http://www.barlowgenealogy.com "A website for everyone researching the surname Barlow,any spelling or variation, anywhere, anytime... includes....Barlow, Barlowe, Barlo, Barloe, Barler, Parler, Parlur, Barlage,and others yet to be discovered"