Thanks Ruth. Thoughts about “adoption” of nephew and nieces had crossed my mind although Josiah does call them his children. His wife’s maiden name was SNELSON, unless there was a prior marriage I haven’t discovered, so unlikely that Phebe was hers. But an illegitimate child of Josiah’s whose mother died is a possibility. That may never be provable but I might rule nieces and nephew in or out as I track down more of this line. But it will take a while. Just got your next mail, no need to apologise for adding more work! I must track down that signature as churchwarden, thanks for that. Christine From: Ruth Genda Sent: Monday, September 15, 2014 12:55 PM To: cheshire@rootsweb.com ; christinebenson313@btinternet.com Subject: Josiah WHITTAKER Will 1821 All from Gawsworth registers: There is a Phebe LEA born illegitimately and baptised on 30 Nov 1805. A possibility perhaps? Haven’t gone any further with this. Or she could be a niece – there was a Phoebe WHITTAKERS baptised 28 April 1782 (born 23 March 1782) d/o George and Elizabeth W. Was she taken into the family fold on death of George or Elizabeth perhaps – or for any other reason? Ruth