I am a returned researcher to this list after many years of being absent. Having just spent a very informative and enjoyable time browsing the list archives, I can see how helpful the people are here, and thought I might ask for some help over something I have wondered about for a while now. ELIZA SMITH ASHWORTH – born in Whittlesey/Whittlesea in 1831 to John Smith Ashworth and Elizabeth Anne Hayes, married a JOSEPH GRAY in Whittlesey, she at the tender age of only 16, in 1847 Brother of Eliza Smith Ashworth (and my 3x gr. grandfather) GEORGE SMITH ASHWORTH married a MARY ANN GRAY in Rotherhithe London 7 years later in 1854. Mary Ann Gray was not from Whittlesey but came from the St. Paul’s Parish of Cambridge. I realize that GRAY is a very common name, but I would love to know if there is any relationship between Joseph Gray and Mary Ann Gray. 99% of my Ashworth family were given a middle name of Smith which has made them easy to research, but the Grays have been a much different story. Mary Ann’s father was also called Joseph Gray, and I have traced him back to having been born in 1803 in Little Abington. He, Joseph Gray, father of Mary Ann, was married to Rebecca Barrow of Steeple Bumpstead and had the following (known) children… Charles b. 1830, Henry b.1831, Mary Ann b. 1832, James b. 1835, Thomas b.1837, Daphney(sic) 1841, William 1943, George 1845. All born in Cambridge! I thought at first that Joseph might have been a brother of Mary Ann, hence George and Mary Ann apparently meeting up and marrying in London (you know, Joseph and Eliza visiting for instance, and bringing Mary Ann with them), but because they married before the 1851 census, he was not at home with his family in Cambridge at that time for me to check, and I have not as yet been able to check the 1841 census. I do not know where he actually came from as I have not found him on a census after the marriage in 1847. Not knowing the date of the marriage of the elder Joseph Gray and Rebecca Barrow I feel it could be more than possible they had a first child named Joseph, but this is only supposition on my behalf. Because I am currently in transit between the Sth Pacific and Australia I cannot join Ancestry to check the census records, but I wondered if maybe one of you super sleuths out there might like to do some sleuthing for me!! :o) Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated. Diana Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com