I am endeavouring to help a friend who descends from a William LARKMAN, formerly a hairdresser of Jarrow. It's an interesting conundrum with some puzzling aspects, so please bear with me as I explain it - and forgive the length of this message. HARRIET LARKMAN, born in the March quarter of 1879 at Tynemouth RD, according to FreeBMD (10b 222), was almost certainly the daughter of William Larkman and Jane DODDS, whose probable marriage is found in the March quarter of 1872 at South Shields (10a 772). There is no other Harriet Larkman who fits the scenario I am researching and she was the great-grandmother of the person I am helping. In every census except 1881, i.e. in those of 1891-1911, Harriet is shown as having been born at Walker, Northumberland, Walker being a suburb of Newcastle and in Tynemouth RD. In the census of 1881 William Larkman, wife Jane and daughter Harriet are in South Stoneham, Hampshire (a suburb of Southampton). William is aged 30, a shipyard labourer, born Norwich, Norfolk; Jane is 29, born South Shields; daughter Harriet is 2, born Newcastle. Jane Larkman apparently died in the Sep quarter of 1890, aged 39, at South Shields RD (FreeBMD 10a 425) and in precisely the same quarter William Larkman married at Tynemouth RD to Josephina Maria M (later proved to be Matilda) JOHANSSON (FreeBMD 10b 369). In the 1891 census the family are found at 111 Commercial Rd, Jarrow, William now being 36 and a hair dresser, born at Camberwell, London; wife Matilda is 34 and born at an uncertain place in Belgium; there are two children called Johnston (who were almost certainly Matilda's from a previous marriage) and Harriet Larkman, aged 11, born Walker, Northumberland. Interestingly, the very next street to Commercial St was called Buddle Street, which becomes significant in the next para. In 1901 William Larkman is found at 58-60 Buddle St, Jarrow, age 46, hairdresser, born Shoreditch, London. The only other person present appears to have been a 24- year-old male employee. Matilda Larkman was at 92 Ferry St, Jarrow, with a daughter of 31 who was also a hairdresser. Harriet Larkman had married at South Shields in the March quarter of 1899 to an Owen CONNOLLY (FreeBMD 10s 1053) and in 1891 they also were living in Buddle Street, Jarrow, at no. 85, Harriet now being 23, born Walker, Northumberland, so she fits completely with being Harriet Larkman, daughter of William. To cut a long story short, Harriet eventually either left her husband Owen or he left her or kicked her out, because she subsequentlly shacked up with a miner called Robert DICKSON and they are found in the 1911 census at Prudoe, near Hexham, Harriet now being 32, born Walker, Northumberland. I am quite certain this was the same Harriet who was born Harriet Larkman in 1879. Robert and Harriet had a number of children, born in various places but all with the mother's maiden name given as Larkman, all found with FreeBMD. Despite intensive research, I can find no marriage of Robert Dickson and a Harriet Larkman or Connolly. Harriet and her children moved at some time in the 1920s to Watford, Herts, and their life there is recorded by my friend. What is really "bugging" me is: who was William Larkman?!!! He goes in 1881 from being a shipyard labourer born at Norwich to being in 1891 a hairdresser in Jarrow, born at Camberwell, London, and in 1901 still a hairdresser in Jarrow but born at Shoreditch, London! I can just about live with the various birth places, because they are very often unreliable in censuses, but how does a man suddenly become a hairdresser from a shipyard labourer? My instinct - admittedly with questions - is that this was the same man, but what was he up to? Did he have secrets in his life? Does anyone recognise William Larkman or this family because it's driving me slightly potty! Larkman, BTW, would appear to be very much a Norfolk surname and especially from Norwich. Any thoughts / information, gratefully received! BTW, some will ask why not obtain the marriage certificates of William Larkman, which is the obvious thing to do - however, the person I am helping is not financially well off and I am trying to keep her costs down. -- Roy Stockdill Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE