Hello Listers I'm taking up Geoffro's invitation to introduce myself but, unfortunately not to Christmas dinner. We're having a day in London on the 9th Dec. My maiden name is WATTS and my Gt Gt grandfather, Thomas WATTS comes from Hawkesbury. Until I can get his marriage certificate (June qtr 1842 Bristol to Emily WHITFIELD) I can't tell you for certain who his parents were - but its likely to be Daniel & Sarah. I sent to Bristol RO for the certificate but they tell me that unless I know the church where they married they cannot help me. I've checked the fiche for St. James Barton & St. Paul's, Portland Square but they are not there. If anybody has come across this marriage I would be extremely grateful for the details. Failing that, I am makiing my first visit to the Family Records Centre on 21 Nov and will try for it there. Although I was born in Cardiff, as were my parents and most of my grandparents, all the preceding generations come from the West country, mostly Devon or Gloucester, with an odd Somerset or Wilts thrown in for good measure. Other Glous names that I am researching are: PHILLIPS (Eldersfield), WHITFIELD & GWINNELL (Stone), MAYNE (Wotton - under Edge and Ottery St. Mary, Dev), Also GREEDY (Wiveliscombe), ATKINS (Exeter), and WAKEHAM (Devon) Any links with these names? I have quite a lot of local history info. on South Wales The 1881 census has these Hawkesbury strays in Wales: TANNER, HIGGINS, ISAAC, RANDOLPH, DIX, CREW, STINCHCOMB, STAFFORD, WATTS, HEAVEN, MOORE, FURLONG, CHAPPELL, GULWELL, WOOD, HAYNES, PULLEN, TANDY, STINCHCOMBE, ILIS. I may have some background information on the places where they lived if it helps. Since I joined the list a week or two ago, some very useful information has been put out eg Sherston BTs, MIs and 1851 census extracts. What have I missed in the past? and is it possible for such helpful info. to be regurgitated for new listers like me please? Thanks for all your help Carole