Hello again Diane, My G. Grandfather was Thomas Forster Williamson, born in Westoe in 1859. His parents were Frances Forster and John Williamson. John, I think, came from Shetland, or at least, somewhere in Scotland. It is unfortunate that he had died before the 1871 census and was at sea for the 1861 census and wasn't married for the 1851 census! The John I have found at sea in 1861 came from Shetland and he was aboard the "Lucy" as Cook, AB Seaman, born 1833. His father, I know from John's marriage certificate was called Thomas and he too was a mariner. Hopefully, a kind fellow lister who has offered to look up the wages and effects of deceased seamen when he visits the National Archives this month, will come up with some concrete evidence for me. The link with Frances as his widow appears to be my only hope of finding the correct John Williamson.The mother of Frances Forster was called Mary (b.1809 in Newcastle) and there was a Mary Ann Armour who married a William Forster in 1836 at Newcastle, All Saints, a Mary Ainsley who also married a William Forster, at Newcastle, St Nicholas in 1827 and a number of other Marys who married William Forsters in Newcastle from 1825 onwards. Oh for some really uncommon names! Regards, Eileen