Dear cousins I am researching my BOWERS ancestors and descendants who originated in Cheshire/Lancashire, England. Some migrated to Australia, others to New Zealand and perhaps the USA and other countries. I have got back to James BOWERS who lived in or near Stockport, Cheshire, England. I do not know the date of his birth but estimate to be c1800 or earlier. Here is some information - Descendants of James BOWERS 1 James BOWERS b. c1800 (or earlier) .... 2 John Bowers b: Abt. 1817 Stockport, Cheshire, England ........ +Mary Ann Sale b: Abt. 1818 England m: 17 June 1838 District of Cheadle, Cheshire(Stockport) ........... 3 Margaret Bowers b: 1847 Manchester, Lancashire ............... +John Entwhistle b: Abt. 1845 Lancashire m: 1 November 1871 Charlestown, Lancs ........... 3 Maria Bowers b: 10 March 1850 Manchester, Lancashire ............... +William Hayes b: Abt. 1847 Lancashire m: 24 November 1871 Charlestown, Lancs ........... 3 Mary Ann Bowers b: 2 September 1852 Worsley, Lancs d: 20 August 1919 Auckland, N.Z. ............... +Joseph Royle b: 5 November 1853 Pendlebury, Salford m: 23 May 1872 Charlestown, Lancs d: 4 July 1934 Auckland, N.Z. Mary Ann Bowers and Joseph Royle migrated to Queensland, Australia in 1883 with their young family. About 1903 Mary and Joseph left Australia to settle in New Zealand with their daughter Elizabeth and her husband Carl OLSSON/OLSON (of Sweden). Elizabeth and Carl had three known children - Carl, Olga and Esma born in the early 1900s. Mary Ann Bowers was my great-grandmother and I am descended from her son Elijah ROYLE who stayed behind in Queensland, Australia when his parents went to New Zealand. Another daughter of Mary Ann, Rosetta ROYLE also stayed in Australia and moved to Melbourne, Victoria when she married. Good luck to you all in your BOWER searches. Mary Thit, Melbourne, Australia mthit@bigpond.net.au