Thank you to all the many people who have responded to my query about the balloonists and parachutists, Emily DE VOY and George HIGGINS. I now have all I need about their family histories up until 1891 and about their aerial adventures. All I need now is to know what happened to Emily after 1891 and about her stage career. A summary of the story is as follows: George Higgins, a farm labourer from Buckinghamshire, had two children by an unknown lady and later had a relationship with Matilda Dovey by whom he had another 4 children. George then left his second 'wife' at home in London and became landlord of the Lord Nelson Inn at Coppenhall in Cheshire. With him to the inn went Matilda's sister Emma Louisa Dovey. Emma was also in show business using the name Emily De Voy. While at Coppenhall George and Emma/Emily put on ballooning and parachuting displays for the public. George was killed in a ballooning accident in 1891. At the inquest Emma/Emily claimed she was the wife of George. A day later Matilda turned up also claiming to be his wife. Matilda went on to live in Tottenham, marry a printer and have further children. Nothing more is heard of Emma/Emily. The only clue is that on the day of the death of George Higgins she cancelled an appearance she was due to make at the Theatre Royal, Leeds? So, I still have an interest in finding what happened after 1891 to Emma Louisa Dovey/Emily De Voy. David