Thanks again Geoff for that extra info, that's another lead I will follow up. I also realised that I didn't mention in my haste that Edward Ross was married in Bishopwearmouth in Feb. 1816, so feel that at some stage the family must have moved to Co Durham from NBLD. I have researched all the census info from 1901 back so know that I have the correct family & ages are all consistent & I take your point about not knowing where born. The info on the census is consistent in 1841, 1851, saying born at Benton NBL but obviously he was baptised somewhere else, & the age is consistent. His wife's census info says she was born in South Shields hence the reason for trying to obtain apprentice records for those two areas. I've always suspected the my Ross family at some stage must have been from Scotland & have been trying to find out when this happened, but getting Edward's parents' names has been a real battle. I will certainly try to obtain the Newcastle church records & hope for a bit more success. Regards Dorothy