I am William Ernest McKENZIE, a new subscriber researching my Durham and Northumberland roots from London. My father was Ralph William YOUNGER McKENZIE born Chirton, North Shields in November 1906 and he married, first, Vera Margaret KISSELL in 1941 and she died in 1942 in childbirth whilst my father was in the army in Palestine. His parents were Sidney McKENZIE, born 1885 at 10 Ryton Place in Gateshead, (believed died 1919 whilst with the Royal Army Service Corps in Taranto, Italy) and Elizabeth Ann(ie) YOUNGER, born 1886 in North Shields and died August 1915. The YOUNGER line were all called Ralph through three generations and were all coalminers . My father's sister, Maud was born 1907 died in 1909 and I have yet to trace any other siblings. My father married Phyllis Kathleen DICKINSON in Hendon, Middlesex in 1946 and I was the result. Before my father joined the army in August 1925 he was living in Musselburgh and working in Edinburgh as a draughtsman, possibly with or for a grandfather, according what he told me forty years ago. He was also supposed to have been brought up by his grandmother. I am seeking to verify these statements. Sidney's mother was Maude Mary McKENZIE born in 1866 at 1 Barrington Place, Gateshead and unmarried when her son Sidney was born. She had five sisters and one brother all born in Gateshead - Helen Fannie, b 1861, William George b 1863, Isabella b 1864, Francis Alice b 1869 and Lillian b 1871. I have yet to trace what happened to these siblings. Maude Mary married in Newcastle on 16 April 1892. According to the GRO indexes I have searched Helen, Isabella and Lillian all subsequently married but I have yet to trace them or their families any further. Their parents were Ellen ELLIOTT, born Newcastle 1838 (according to the 1881 census) of Carr Hill and William Losh McKENZIE (of Denton Grange); as yet I have to trace their births and they were both recorded as of full age when they married at St Albans parish church, Heworth on 25 December 1857. Ellen with the children are on the 1881 census as living in Banett Lane, Merrington, Co Durham. William Losh McKENZIE was not at home on census night and Ellen is listed as married not a widow. Trying to track William Losh McKENZIE on the 1881 census CD gave me the count of 1,914 William McKENZIE's. Also my g-g-grandfather , William Losh McKENZIE occupation was given as Soap Manufacturer in 1866, but in 1857 he was an Agent. The Gateshead registrar has suggested that LOSH is a surname from a previous generation, until recently I had read the name as Josh from the indexes but it could so easily be Losh as well on his daughter's birth certificate. On the marriage certificate it is Josh but his initials were W L, so I am confused. There are a number of LOSH families in Cumberland on the 1881 census but only one in Co. Durham and none in Northumberland. William Losh McKENZIE's parents were George McKENZIE (an Agent) and Elizabeth (LOSH ??). Ellen ELLIOTT's parents were Alexander ELLIOTT (glass manufacturer) and Sophie ???. And that's is as far back as I have reached with my McKENZIE line. Does anyone have any connections with any of these families? Bill McKenzie Luton, Bedfordshire, England researching McKENZIE in Northumberland and Durham YOUNGER in Northumberland and Durham ELLIOTT in Northumberland and Durham DAWSON in Northumberland and Durham COOK in Northumberland and Durham FENEY in Northumberland and Durham DICKINSON in Middlesex and London FREEMAN in Middlesex and London PICKEN from Hartlepool and Leicester DICKINSON in Middlesex and London FREEMAN in Middlesex and London