I was wondering if SKS/Miracle Worker could help me with my 'wall' that I have been at for over a year now. I have my COATES line going back to a Robert COATES. I do not know where or when he was born but it almost certainly is somewhere within North Yorkshire (probably between or near to the A1 / A19) and circa the 1770's to 1780's. From the Quarter Sessions Division of Gilling East in the North Riding of Yorkshire (from MicroFilm at the Archives in Northallerton) he may have been an Innkeeper in Smeaton (Great Smeaton I assume ?) between 1793 and 1808. There is a possibility that he was the illegitimate son of Sarah COATES of Harlsey Castle, North Yorks, born Jan 12 1782. This is from the Parish Register for Northallerton. He married Elizabeth THOMPSON on 5 May 1808 at the Collegiate Church, Ripon, North Yorkshire (now the Cathedral). Elizabeth was born 28 April 1781 in Kirby Sigston, North Yorks. I'm fairly sure about this date as it is from a family Bible. She was a widow and had previously been married to John SCURFIELD (may also be documented as SCHOFIELD) possibly on 22 Oct 1799 (according to the IGI). They had 3 children between 1802 and 1806 one of whom was born in Thirsk. The marriage banns/Parish Register entry described Robert as a 'Robert COATES of Ripon in the County of York - Servant Man' and Elizabeth as 'Elizabeth SCURFIELD of the Parish of Cundale in the same county - Widow' and was witnessed by Ann HAYGARTH and Richard SHEPHERD. Robert gives his age as 26 which ties in nicely with his potential birth date of 1782. Elizabeth gives hers as 22, apparently exagerating/not knowing ones age was common place ? Robert and Elizabeth had the following children. Thomas COATES born 25 Feb 1809 in Northallerton, William Thompson COATES born 18 Jan 1811 in Sunderland and Robert COATES born 13 Jul 1814 in Sunderland. Elizabeth died 11 May 1816. No idea what happened to Robert after 1814. There is a record in the Sunderland Parish Registers of a marriage between Robert COATES and Mary HARPER on 17 Nov 1820 but I have no idea if this is 'my' Robert or not. I am assuming he would re-marry as it would be unlikely he could support 3 small children on his own ? My questions are : If he was born 1782 could he have been an Innkeeper at the tender age of 11 and where would he have got his £10 fee from ? The last date of his licence of 1808 ties in quite nicely with his marriage to Elizabeth but that could just be coincidence. If he was an Innkeeper would he have been described as a 'Servant Man' on his Marriage record ? If either of Roberts parents were alive would it be expected that they would be marriage witnesses rather than someone else ? Are there any Census returns for Sunderland for 1811 or 1821 and if so would anyone be willing to look for Robert and his 3 children. Also would these early cencuses have his date and place of birth detailed ? Is it likely that Robert would have re-married ? Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions. Tim Coates