Firstly a thank you to Brian Croker for his kind offer to share his knowledge with others on the list . Secondly I would like to put forward my interests in the CROKER surname and hope I find others who may be researching the same branch . My interest stems from my mother Valma Ann CROKER who comes from the Taree (Manning) area from N.S.W . She is descended from Samuel CROKER (also spelt at times CROAKER) who was born c.1811 in England and Mary BOYLE born c.1831 in Scotland (she arrived 1841 onboard the "Clyde" with her parents). According to the I.G.I they were married in 1844 in East Maitland (in the Hunter Valley ) , N.S.W . No trace of their marriage has been found as yet (some East Maitland registers were lost in flood). It is this Samuel whom I suspect was the first of my CROKER line to arrive in Australia (or at least his parents) . At this time he was listed as a policeman and had several children at East Maitland including my 2nd great grandfather Samuel CROKER who married Elizabeth STACE . In the 1850's the CROKERs moved to the Manning area and resided in such areas as Jones Island (near Taree) , Wingham , Nabiac , Failford and the Wollumba River . My great-grandfather was Ernest Benjamin CROKER who married Maude Ann McCLYMONT (also known as RILEY) and my grandfather is Herbert Lawrence CROKER . Most of the CROKERs were farmers by occupation . Kind Regards Valerie Green greenv@mpx.com.au