Thank you Sheila for your willingness to help. it is very much appreciated. This is the information that I have. My gggrandfather Richard (Rich'd) Bowles (Bowles) was born "somewhere" in England in 1818. For a time he went to France. There he married Diana Smith who was born in England as well. I have a record of the marriage in 1843 at the British Embassy in Seine, Paris France. They must have stayed there as the oldest son William was born in 1845 in France. They returned to England and my ggrandfather George Bowles was born in 1852. The reason I am looking to Shardlow is my research found only this particular record that might match up with George. It is from England and Wales Civil Registration Index: 1837- 1983., vol 7b,page 321. A birth to Diana Bowles ,Quarter of March,1852, District of Shardlow, County: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire. I would like to find out anything else such as the gender of the child, fathers or relatives names, if there was a christening at a local Parish church, cemetery records. Perhaps the older son William Bowles who was 8 years old at the time might have gone to school nearby? I have not accessed anything as to there whereabouts at any other prior times and I dont know any of the siblings or parents names of Richard and Diana Smith Bowles. They first appear in America in the 1860 census. Richard was a farmer and owned a farm. Diana is listed as being a seamstress. The oldest son Willaim fought in the U.S. Civil War and then later owned a Tavern in New London Ohio on South Railroad Street. Well any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you again. R.L.Bowles-Meentzen Shardlow Heritage <shardlow.heritage@which.net> wrote:Dear Randi, everyone at the centre is a volunteer but we do our best to answer questions if we have copies of the relevant documents. Can you give me some idea of the time scale eg when abouts was your ancestor born here? I presume you have tried the I G I and the English census of 1881 is now on line and so is the 1901 census. Send back and give me what definite info and family stories you have and I will see what I can do. Best Wishes Sheila Cooke, Researcher, Shardlow Heritage Trust -----Original Message----- From: Randi Meetzen [mailto:meetzen@sbcglobal.net] Sent: 10 January 2005 19:46 To: shardlow.heritage@which.net Subject: Shardlow Geanealogy Question Hello, I am wondering if you have anyone at your center who has knowledge of the local genealogy or who does family history lookups for others. I am researching my family who I believe lived for a while in Shardlow. I believe my great grandfather was born there. My family name is Bowles. I will look forward to your reply. If you have any other ideas as to how I might acquire information, I am open to suggestions. I am looking forward to a trip to Europe this summer and Shardlow will be one of my stops. By the way ,you have a very nice web page.It is informative as well as pleasing to view. R.L. Bowles- Meentzen, California, U.S.A.