Mike I found the baptism, on line, of Joseph in the Whitburn Baptisms http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/XWBN.html 27 Dec 1836 DIXON, Joseph; child of John and Mary. Other children: - 21 Nov 1830 DIXON, Rebekah; child of John and Mary 21 Oct 1832 DIXON, Ann; child of John and Mary 31 Aug 1834 DIXON, Jane; child of John and Mary There is no trace of a marriage of John and Mary on the Whitburn marriages: - http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/WBN.html If you wish to find the maiden surname of Margaret J. who married Joseph then I should purchase one of the birth certificates of their children. According to the 1881 Census, Thomas J Dixon was 3 months old and therefore born in Quarter Ending March 1881 in Sunderland District. I would write to The Registrar at South Shields, they are the most helpful people I have ever come across, giving the address and parents names that you know, and enclosing the fee applicable. South Tyneside 18 Barrington Street, South Shields, NE33 1AH. Tel: 0191 455 3915. There is a registration of a birth of a Roland Dixon on Freebmd http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl Births Mar 1870 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIXON Roland S. Shields 10a 642 This a reasonably unusual first name and is therefore a possibility if you wish to obtain a certificate directly from Southport GRO. If you are resident in Uk you can order on-line at: - cost £7 http://www.col.statistics.gov.uk/ If you live outside UK then details of how to order are: - http://www.statistics.gov.uk/registration/certe_w/fees.asp Happy hunting Heather J