Hi Ian In the 1851 census, a search for PREECE gives only the following results, but I think you have got your John from Herefordshire here in the second family. When I saw the first family, I hunted for the unnamed parents but in the end had to conclude that the enumerator actually noted these families the other way round and did schedule 60 before schedule 59, so the children belong to servant John of Herefordshire. The oldest child John fits with the list of children for John snr that you gave. Gt.Brickhill Pt.2 1723 081 0059 John PREECE SO 7 M Gt.Brickhill BKM William PREECE SO 5 M Gt.Brickhill BKM Sarah PREECE DA 3 F Gt.Brickhill BKM Rebeccca LAWSON SV 24 F Servant Gt.Brickhill BKM 1723 081 0060 Sir Henry Bart. FOULIS HD U 50 M Rector Gt.Brickhill Ingleby YKS Mary Ann SNEATH SV U 59 F Servant Cottesmore RUT John PREECE SV W 38 M Servant Abedon HEF Edwin HARRIS SV U 19 M Servant Gt.Brickhill BKM Mary Ann SMITH SV M 48 F Servant Yelvertopp NTH Hannah JEFFS SV U 22 F Servant Hardwick BKM Hope this helps a little. Celia Renshaw In Chesterfield UK -----Original Message----- From: Ian Preece [mailto:ian@preece67.fsnet.co.uk] Sent: 20 April 2005 11:21 To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BKM] PREECE families in Buckinghamshire? Greetings all. I am looking for a Preece family, and having difficulty locating them earlier than 1861. They were in Ealing, Brentford, Middlesex in 1861. There was John(43), Ellen(33), Ann(11), Thomas(8), Ellen(4) and Eliza(2). John is said to be born in Herefordshire, Ellen in Amersham, Bucks. In later census returns their daughter Ann was born in either Bucks or Middlesex. Ellen was Morton (or possibly Horton) prior to the marriage. I have a suspicion that Ellen may not be John's first wife. Any sightings of them or their children earlier than 1861 would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance for any help you can give. Ian Preece