My gratitude to everyone who responded with information on the Berry family. The mist has cleared somewhat. > The parents of James Berry are believed to have been Thomas > Berry (1784-1856) and Hannah Farmer (1780-1831); with a total > of six children born in the Appletree area, and James being the > youngest. Agent Betty helped to identify that Thomas married Hannah in Appletree 1808 and fathered five children. Jane christened Appletree 1909; and William 1810, Susannah 1812, John 1816, and James 1818 all christened in Cropredy. Details of the Thomas Berry who married Sarah Farmer in Chipping Warden 1785 also helped to thicken the soup. Thomas Berry, who married Hannah Farmer, was the christened son (1784) of William Berry and Jane Waddons in Aston le Walls. Thomas Berry, who married Sarah Farmer, was the christened son (1761) of Samuel Berry and Ann in Chipping Warden. Possibly. It would be rather pleasing to connect the brace of Thomas, since they appear to be a generation apart and Aston le Walls is only a mile away from Chipping Warden. Burial records for Appletree show that William Berry died in 1833 aged 78 years, giving an estimated birth year of 1755. A marriage date for Samuel and Ann is not known, but parish records show that they christened eight children in Chipping Warden between 1761 and 1776; none were named William. Sigh. Agent Muriel helped to highlight the networking system that supported so many rural emigrants seeking better employment prospects in the Coventry area. From previous research I know that many of these travelled by working passage along the Oxford canal; and pockets of Banburyshire folk can be identified in such overnight stops as Hillmorton and Longford. -- Joe Firefox & Thunderbird portals Sunbelt Vipre & Firewall protection