This is a retry after 12 months searching, & I'm hoping Geoff will be able to help this Geordie in Oz. My 3Ggrandfather Edward Ross married Elizabeth Oliver on 13/2/1816. He was born in Benton in 1788. All info that I've paid for so far does not reveal his parent(s). I know it's only a slight possibility that any other names will be given but I would be so grateful if you could look up the HM Woods records just to eliminate that possibility. He was a shipwright & my search so far has given me Newcastle apprentices only up to 1774. There appears to be apprentice records for Bishopwearmouth & South Shields, how do I go about accessing these records? At what age did apprentices get taken on around 1800? Thank you for any info. Regards Dorothy