On Sat, 15 Sep 2012 10:52:43 +0100, David Greenaway <[email protected]> wrote: I think we are the victims of poor transcription here. Hi David, Thanks for looking up this STONE family, ancestors of new lister Cindy. In my case I'm not a victim of poor transcription. I don't have an 1841 census surname index so was looking in the Kingswood/Oldland area, where I thought they could have been leaving. After half an hour of wading through census pages I had to give up and dash off to the B & A FHS fair in Thornbury. In the1841 census for Bitton we have the following family: Ah, so they were in Bitton! Thanks for that Yes, the names fit with what I know of Cindy's family, even the 87-year-old 'Willis' who should be Alice. When I get a moment, I will see if I can spot them in the Bitton census. I know how difficult this 1841 census can be to read so it's not surprising that names are transcribed incorrectly. The transcribers are doing their best with often faint and almost illegible handwriting. Thanks very much for checking that STAVES is really STONE. Josephine