If any of you kind souls ever come across the name John Sells or any variation of same during your research, please let me know. I've been banging my head against this brick wall for so long now I've given up hope of ever getting any further back. I know John married Ann Stringer (a widow) on Nov. 11th 1742 at Barton le Clay, I know he died on Sept 3rd 1770 in Silsoe, but I have been unable to find where he came from or when he was born. In the past I have hired two professional geneologists with no success, so I feel it's going to be a flukey finding if any. I'm keeping my fingers crossed Brian

On 26 Mar 2008 at 11:49, Brian and Betty Sells wrote: > If any of you kind souls ever come across the name John Sells or any > variation of same during your research, please let me know. The name was originally Sills (son of Silvester) and as such is found in Bucks (Chesham area) around 1600. It is never one of the commonest names, but does continue in a modest way. Later it mutates to Sells and moves further north, heading for the Beds borders. Your genealogists should have tried the variant spelling and might have found the link then.