Hi all, Sometime you might like to visit the interesting Web site devoted to changes in the population of Britain 1801-2001:- http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ I had a look at the South Hams and found some interesting information. 1. In 1851 15% of the population were "attending Wesleyan Methodists", and 8% were "attending Baptists", which rather suggests that a quarter of our ancestors may not have had their children baptised in a Church of England parish church? No doubt this explains why so many baptisms are difficult to find, even though a later census indicates that a person was "born" in that place/parish"? 2. Also in 1850, the infant mortality rate was 10%, that is deaths before the age of 12 months. With most families of the period having around 4 children this distressing figure would suggest that up to half of our ancestral families were likely to have suffered one infant death? And this in addition to all the other deaths from smallpox, cholera, typhoid, etc., due in no small part to the insanitary conditions and poor water supplies of that time. Cheers, Ray