I just stumbled on to a piece of information that has me stumped. Found the Boulder County, Colorado Clerks Office site that has an index to their records. Quick outline - My family of Carltons came from Cumberland County, England in 1880. Thomas (1824-1892) & Jane (McClean/McLean)(1818-1891) Carlton had (in England): Sarah Isabella (1845-?) - last data 1851 census David (1848-1892)- emigrated to Colorado with father John Irving (1851-?)- remained in Cumberland Mary Jane (1853-1933)- emigrated to Colorado with father Stewart McLean (1856-1860)- died young in Cumberland Thomas's brother John (1838-1913) had already emigrated to Colorado. Thomas and son David owned a coal mine. In Dec 1891 Thomas's wife Jane died ; in Jan 1892 Thomas died ; and in June 1892 David died. What I just found was - filed in Boulder County, Colorado on 7 July 1892 John Irving Carlton and Sarah Isabel Birkett gave Power of Attorney to William Carlton. I'm certain that this was triggered by the 3 deaths in sudden sucession, and that they weren't "local", and therefore sure these are the 2 children who stayed in Cumberland. Quick check of Free BMD & IGI and saw nothing on a Carlton / Birkett marriage. Do not have a William Carlton in my data base alive in 1892 (although William was a name used often in my line). And would have to think he'd be "local". When rechecking files noted that in the 1880 U.S. Federal census John Carlton (brother of Thomas) had enumerated with him an Edward Hudson (1869-?) and a Hannah Hudson (1872-?) as nephew and neice. (His wife's maiden name was Campbell). And finally, during WW I, my Carltons traded letters with an "Aunt Bella" in Cumberland, who then forwarded to an Ann Pearson in Washington, D.C. who then forwarded to her daughter Annice Pearson in Chicago who then passed on to Jane Carlton (David's wife) in Colorado. HELP. Who were the husband Birkett, William Carlton, the Hudson children and the Pearsons ? Would be real nice to tie all these togeather. David