Hi, I wonder if anybody can help me solve a mystery. I detail below matrix of the 1851 to 1871 census returns for my past family:- Newfield 1851 Census - Byers Green - Seldom Seen William Brown Head 29 Coalminer Bedfordshire Mary Brown (mn ?) Wife 28 Durham Mary Brown Daughter 11 Durham Thomas Brown Son 2 Durham Helmington Row 1861 Census - Bowden Close William Brown Head 38 Coalminer Elstow Bedfordshire Mary Brown (mn ?) Wife 38 Stanhope Durham Maria Brown Daughter 14 Wolsingham Durham Thomas Brown Son 12 Wolsingham Durham William Brown Son 9 Scholar Seldom Seen Durham James Brown Son 4 Scholar Bowden Close Durham Sarah Brown Daughter 2 Bowden Close Durham Tudhoe 1871 Census - Mount Pleasant, 37 Pit Row William Brown Head 55 Coalminer Elstow Bedfordshire Mary Brown (mn ?) Wife 49 Stanhope Durham Thomas Brown Son 23 Coalminer Wolsingham Durham William Brown Son 20 Coalminer Seldom Seen Durham James Brown Son 15 Bowden Close Durham Sarah Brown Daughter 13 Servant Bowden Close Durham Mary Brown Daughter 8 Scholar Fylands Bridge Durham My queries are:- 1) Is Mary (1851) and Maria (1861) one of the same person and has her age been recorded incorrectly. Although it is quite clear on the 1851 census return as 11. 2) If they are different people, where was Maria in 1851 3) The marriage of William and Mary has got me stumped - the 1851 & 1861 census make William's birth year c.1822 whilst 1871 gives him a birth year c.1816. There is a marriage of a William Brown recorded in the second quarter of 1840 in Auckland. Am awaiting receipt of the Marriage Certificate. Finally, does anybody know of a photograph of the row of houses known as "Seldom Seen", the family home at the time of the 1851 census. I have managed to trace and follow the demise on old maps but a photo to go into the album would be great especially as this might be the first Brown family connection with the area. Thanks in anticipation Geoff