I am researching the ancestors of my maternal grandparents, whom I have traced back only to my great-grandparents John Midwood (b. 23 Oct 1831 Stalybridge, Cheshire) and his wife Ellen Avison ([Evenson?] b. about 1842 Stalybridge, Tameside, or Stalybridge, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire). I am a little uncertain as to whether these two towns are one and the same. In  the 1861 U.K. Census John is listed as a "Beer-Seller"; and in the 1871 baptism record of his daughter Elizabeth Ann, he is listed as a "Beer-House Keeper". (A man after my own heart!) I have no information about their marriage, but it may have been as late as 1868, as it appears that their third child, Elizabeth Ann, was born in 1871. It appears that they emigrated to Massachusetts (MA), USA sometime between 1872 and 1875, because my information reflects that their fourth child Charley was born in Stalybridge 12 May 1872 and their next known child Melior was born about 1875 in Massachusetts.  John and Ellen appear to have emigrated to Bristol, Rhode Island (RI) and then moved to Tiverton, RI, where he owned a poultry farm on Fish Road, then Fall River, MA. In 1880 the US Census lists him living at 86 Alden Street, Fall River, as a cotton mill worker. Ellen worked in the mills, too. He eventually bought a farm on Wood Street in Swansea, MA. His sons James and George bought the farm from their mother after their father passed away. James was my grandfather. As best I can determine, John and Ellen Midwood's children were:     Amelia     Harriet     Elizabeth Ann (Stalybridge, c. 16 Mar 1871)     Charley (Stalybridge, c. 12 May 1872)     Melior (Massachusetts, abt 1875)     Harriet (Fall River, MA, abt 1876)     James (my grandfather) (b. Fall River, MA 10 Jun 1878)     George (b. Tiverton, RI abt 1881) John's parents may have been Joseph Midwood (b. abt 1811 Lepton, Yorkshire), and Mary Ann (no maiden surname, b. abt 1808) but that identification is not conclusive. He is said to have raised prize gladiolas and whippet dogs. John and Mary Ann's other children were:     Charles (Dunkinfield, Cheshire abt 1835)     Amelia (Dunkinfield, Cheshire abt 1841)     James (Dunkinfield, Cheshire abt 1843)     Hannah (Stalybridge, abt 1846)   If anyone an offer any further information on my Midwood or Avison (Evenson?) ancestors, I would greatly appreciate the help. Best regards, Robert Lee Wood, Jr. San Mateo (near San Francisco), CA, USA P.S. I have traced the Wood line back to Ipswich, MA when in 1666 the weaver Anthony Wood married Mary Grover of Beverly, MA. I have not traced Anthony back to England, but that is a parallel line of inquiry.