I am researching in particular LAWS from all over the Fens, HARPER family from Feltwell, Nfk, and TURNER from Upwell, Nfk., pre 1855. I would love to hear from anyone else who has anything. I am stuck on my LAWS line at Hilgay, Nfk. Can anyone tell me what was happening in the mid 1850's that might have prompted migration? Was this area part of the potatoe famine? Thanks! John Laws FROM HILGAY, Nfk Hannah LAWS b. 1787 - May be Hannah the wife of James LAWS of Ditchingham based on birth date. On the 1841 census she is living in Hilgay with Thomas LAWS b. 1802 as head of household with also James LAWS b. 1804 along with several LAWS children. Hannah would have been only 15 when Thomas was born based on census ages, but could have been their mother. Thomas LAWS b. 1802 Robert LAWS b. 1808 husband of Rebbeca b. 1812 James LAWS b. 1804 living in Thomas(1802) LAWS house on 1841 census James LAWS b. 1807 husband of Jane 1816 (no children on 1841 census)A second James three year apart implies at least two different sets of parents. Mager LAWS b. 1816 William LAWS b. 1819 (my line) Robert LAWS b. 1821 Josiah LAWS b. 1824 husband of Elanor on 1841 census Rebekah LAWS b. 1825 daughter of Thomas b. 1802 Ann LAWS b. 1828 daughter of Thomas b. 1802 Jabez LAWS b. 1831 son of Thomas b. 1802 William LAWS b. 1831 On 1851 census he is living in Methwold with Josiah LAWS and is listed as a nephew. Henry LAWS b. 1832 son of Thomas b. 1802 Thomas LAWS b. 1832 son of Thomas b. 1802 Mary Ann LAWS b. 1841 daughter of Robert b. 1821 There was also a Susan STEVENS (b. 1825) age 16 living in the household of Thomas LAWS b. 1802 on the 1841 census. His daughter Rebekah was the same age. Also of note: On the 1851 census, a Robert TURNER born Hilgay, age 16 is living with my William LAWS b. 1819 and ALice HARPER LAWS and is listed as a nephew. I've never traced him down to see which side of the family he is from, but there may be a link to a TURNER family. I have not looked on the 1851 census for Hilgay. On the 1851 census, you will find William (1819), Mager (1816), and Josiah (1824) LAWS living next to each other in Methwold, Norfolk with their families. There is also a Robert LAWS who is in jail in Methwold at the time of the 1851 census. This Robert LAWS immigrated to Australia (which was a penal colony). I have contacted a relative of him in Australia who believes he may be a Robert LAWS born near Feltwell. William LAWS(1832) is living with Josiah and is listed as a nephew. William (1819) and Mager (1816) based on the births of Henry & Major were both living in Feltwell in 1844. I have found a couple of LAWS families in each of these villages besides the above listed. In such a little town, these LAWS are probably all related. I beleive that William, Mager, Robert, Josiah were probably brothers. Their father may have been a brother to Thomas. Thomas was only 14 when Mager was born so is unlikely the father. Perhaps and older brother who died. I found a Thomas LAWS with a Jabez(an odd name) as a son being Christened in nearby Littleport, Cambridgeshire where a lot of LAWS live and some married girls from Hilgay. I am still working at identifying the father of William and Mager LAWS. I have a speadsheet of many LAWS throughout the Fens region with about 250 entries. -- Get your firstname@lastname email for FREE at http://Nameplanet.com/?su