Hi All, Some of you may recall in the past this posting but I have to keep at this , hoping there's a brick somewhere in this wall that has gotten loose! I am trying to find family connections to my gg- grandfather John "Sidney" THOMPSON ~ b. ca. 1 April 1838 , claimed to have been born in Boston , however no birth record has been found through the archives or any other sources (look-ups) John often went by the name of Sidney On 1902 death record indicates his father was William , mother was either Elizabeth or Margaret HARDING .(not sure this was his mother's surname ~ surname is according to informant 's information) There were zillions of Wms & Eliza's /or Mgt's . No particular marriage record found that I could honestly say were known to be the correct parents of John Sidney THOMPSON. J.S.T. m. at age 22 y on 29 Nov. 1860 ~ Granby ,Hartford, CT to Emily J. COWDREY dau. of Phelps and Emily HOLCOMBE . In 1870 they resided in Landis ,Cumberland ,NJ By 1873 Emily had signed son George A. at age 11 y into Agricultural School & Asylum for Indingent Boys on Thompson's Island . 1872 (or 74?) ~ Emily was in the Chelsea ,MA directory employed as a nurse. (papers not at hand) 1880 - John and Emily were not together in Chelsea, MA He m. Oct. 1885 in Boston, MA ~ Florenia Alrose MAYNARD dau. of James & Mgt. Catherine DAKIN (no children) My Aunt claims prior to the death of Emily (May 1885) that she resided with John Sidney's parents in Chelsea . I have not any source for that information to confirm nor deny. My Aunt also has in her possession a morter and pestal (?) which apparently belonged to William. My eyes popped when I saw these ~ truly interesting to see and touch something that belonged to family of long ago! In 1872 Boston ,MA Directory was a Wm. Thompson who was a physician , and I wonder if this could be him? But with a name so common will I ever find him? ~ George Ambler THOMPSON ( named after George AMBLER of Trumbull ,Bridgeport ,CT ) claimed in every census from 1900 to at least 1930 that his his father was born in England. I have tried to find Thompson family links in CT , NJ and in MA without prevail , without finding any further ties to John and his parents. In real need of help here , does anyone own a bulldozer that can plow this wall??? Any help / suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank -you much , Andrea