This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Sally_Wilkins Surnames: Dunbar Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dunbar/1220.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: first, what country did all this take place in? I'm guessing UK based on "Buckinghamshire"? I don't have access to the 1931 UK census but that's where I would begin - not looking for Mary, obviously, but for a man in Durham with the last name Dunbar and sons Thomas, John and possibly Ronald. It looks like the most recent UK census online may be 1901, I don't know if more recent data is available in paper research. City directories might help but aren't likely to have children's names. Baptismal records (especially if you know Mary/Sylvia was born in Durham) would be a great help, as they will give both parents' names. Newspaper archive searches for the sons' names may yield funeral notices with survivor and parent names. You could also search for Thomas and Sarah there. It's made difficult by the fact that none of the names are uncommon, but that may give you some places to begin. Also, this may be obvious, but have you searched in family homes for any informal records - old newspaper clippings, prayer cards, books with names inscribed in the front cover, etc? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.