Hi Owen If you go to www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl and search for Robert Slater's birth between 1880 and 1890 for Hertfordshire, you will find an entry for the Dec Q of 1884 in the district of Hitchen, which covers Stevenage. The reference is vol 3A, page 460. Knowing this, you are then able to order the birth certificate, which will give you Roberts parents names. I then looked for him on the 1891 census and he is living with his grandparents, John and Annie Slater in Stevenage. John Slater, born 1820 in Paisley, Scotland, army pensioner Annie Slater, wife, born 1824 in Portsmouth, Hampshire Minnie Slater, daughter, born 1865 in Richmond, Yorkshire Annie Slater, daughter, born 1866 in " " Florence Slater, daughter, born 1868 " " Walter Slater, son, born 1871 " " Hope this gets you started! Best wishes and good luck! Mary Lou