Thanks John for your response to my query. I am in a situation where the oldest bit of definitive info I have of my ancesstry is the marriage at Upper Winchendon Sept 1761 of William Oakley and Elizabeth Hester. The only William Oakley I could find in baptismal records is the one at Oakley in 1734 quoted. I searched extensiveley Bucks and Oxford PRs to no avail.Your suggestion of a "foundling" ie abandoned child does seem feasible. The quoted one fits the bill as it is primarily the correct period, and interestingly the spelling (though it could be sheer co incidence) In the Oakley PR his name is Oakely, In the Upper Winch PR for the banns his name is also Oakely, but the marriage is recorded as Oakley. Do you know if the village of Oakley was ever spelt as Oakely, especially in the 1734 period? I am ccing this to the list. Thanks again Reg ----- Original Message ----- From: "John and Margaret Moore" <moorejo@reach.net> To: "Reg Oakley" <regoak@tiscali.co.uk> Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 4:01 AM Subject: Re: [BKM] An end to my brick wall! or a reason. > Reg: > >>The Christening is in the register as "William Oakely The 23rd of >>February". Adjacent records state details of parents etc in the usual >>manner, but not in the case of William Oakely. Does anyone have any >>explanations why > > Adult baptism? Foundling (especially as the surname is the same as the > place)? > > Regards, > John Moore >