I noticed a couple of messages a year or two ago from someone researching Bowdens in Angus. I'm wondering if my wife's line of Bowdens, that concentrates in Fife, are related. The main characters are: Thomas Bowden, b abt 1786, d 26 Sept 1866 in Dollerie (a smithy - blacksmith's forge), Parish of Crieff ; m Jane Kennedy d bef 26 Sep 1866 <and probably bef 1855> Son Robert Bowden, b abt 1825 (from death certificate), d 23 May 1865 m Helen Brand. There is a bit of a problem with the Thomas and Jane relationship to Robert (no other siblings found so far) because Thomas is shown as deceased on Robert's death certificate over a year before Thomas's own certificate of death. I'm almost 100% certain that they are the correct family but It would be nice to know if there was a "story" of some sort that led to the neighbour who registered Robert's death believing that father Thomas was already deceased. From Roberts' death certificate, Helen Brand was still his wife and I also know that she died in 1894. There is also a dearth of information in the 1851 and 1861 census records for any Robert Bowden (and associated soundex surnames) of the approximate age expected. The 1861 census shows Thomas as being a pauper and residing with his son John (I know I said no siblings for Robert - I'm still needing that feeling of comfort to make the link!!). They are at the Dollerie Smithy. No mention of Thomas's marital status, or sign of a Jane in the list of names, so he is probably a widower at that time. Sorry if all of the above is a bit of a ramble, but it would be nice to know if someone else was chasing the same line and had additional information. Thanks in anticipation Jim Thomson Troon Scotland