Hi Bob and All You wrote: In 1901, there is a Mary TOGHILL living at Toghill Cottages (!), Doynton, age 75. She is living with William NICHOLS (38, born Doynton), his wife Mary (36, born Hawkesbury) and 5 children. Mary TOGHILL is described as "AUNT", which might indicate a connection in Hawkesbury were it not that William's father Thomas NICHOLS is shown in the 1881 census as having been born at Iron Acton. I have still not worked out how Mary can be William's aunt, however. Does this help? FreeBMD tells me that William Nichols married Mary Jane Watts Mar Q 1887 Chipping Sodbury 6a 259. Also that William Nichols born Jun Q 1861 Chipping Sodbury 6a 166. Mary Jane Watts daughter of George Watts and Jane Toghill was baptised 14/1/1866. Jane was the sister of Mary Toghill. Thus Mary Toghill is the aunt of Jane Nichols nee Watts . The 1881 census has a NICHOLS family at Doynton, parents Thomas & Sarah and 2 sons including William age 19 born Toghill Doynton!! Mary Jane WATTS would appear to be the Mary I WATTS servant to Frederick y RIBBANS, Clergyman at Tetbury. Mary is shown as U 15 born Hawkesbury Upton. That's the end of this instalment Best wishes Carole

Hi, Carole She could be Mary's aunt? I've had such examples, where the relationship turns out to be not to the householder but the spouse. Tog Hill is a famous (and recently notorious) hill on the Wick to Marshfield Rd where it is crossed by the Freezing Hill road. At the top of the A420 turn left (as from Wick) and you go on to Doynton, M4 and Hawkesbury. I expect you already know that TOGHILL is a variant of THURKILL so the coincidence of the names may be just that. I used to think that TOGHILL was a surname after the place. Regards Brian