Thanks for yours Heather It doesn't sound like there is a likely connection but will keep it on file just in case Mine were more in the trade of digging stuff out of the ground <g> Although my g.g.g.grandfather was a cooper by trade (even he ended up an Alum miner) Will keep your information for ron :-) Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Hi Nivard > > The members of my family were in the blacksmith trade, centred around > Winlaton Mill in early times - and this is information that I was given > several years ago. > > The VINTONs were one of the families who went to the Derwent > valley at quite an early time, to participate in the iron industry. > - possibly one of the Shotley Bridge Sword-making > families. If not then they would have been associated with the early