What a fascinating story! PROWSE is a very likely candidate to be the name of the father of the two illegitimate children? Unless it turns out to be Elizabeth's maiden name or another surname from the family you already know about. There's a will of a William Prowse - died 1843 - in the Devon Record Office: FILE [no title] - ref. 1078/IRW/P/1270 - date: 1843 [from Scope and Content] William Prowse of Diptford, Devon - highly unlikely to be relevant but - if you don't mind wasting 3 pounds 50 on a very long shot - it might be worth having a look to see if he might be the father and acknowledged it in some way in the will. (Having said that I recently took a look at the will of someone we know to be the father of an illegitimate child that was acknowledged and financially supported by his family - but she isn't mentioned in his will.) Also in the A2A archives are the following apprenticeship orders for Diptford: Diptford Parish Catalogue Ref. 3095 A-2 Creator(s): Church of England, Diptford Parish, Devon OVERSEERS Apprenticeship indentures FILE - Apprenticeship indentures - ref. 3095 A-2/PO 8 - date: 1750-1793 item: Grace Eastley apprenticed to Stephen Boon, yeoman - ref. 3095 A-2/PO 8/69 - date: 1787 item: Mary Eastley apprenticed to Roger Lavers - ref. 3095 A- 2/PO 8/86 - date: 1791 item: Jane Eastley apprenticed to David Manning junior, yeoman - ref. 3095 A-2/PO 8/91 - date: 1792 These could be likely candidates for sisters of William? Or aunts? Poor children were often apprenticed out at a very young age - 7 or so. There's also a Robert Eastley mentioned in the Modbury archives but the wife's name is different: OVERSEERS OF THE POOR Removal Orders from Modbury FILE - Judith, the wife of Robert Eastley (a private in the first battalion of the 5th Regiment of Foot) and Elizabeth their daughter aged 6 mths to Ermington - ref. 269A/PO 204 - date: 1789 It's worth keeping an eye on the A2A results because they add stuff every month or so. Currently there is nothing yet for North Huish but it will be coming some time. Not a lot of help but . . . Best wishes, Sandra sandra@windeatt.f2s.com Home Page: http://www.windeatt.f2s.com