Here are some details of my WATKINS of Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England I am descended from Esther WATKINS (b.1838) a daughter of John WATKINS (b.1811). Esther had 7 children, all presumably illegitimate as there is no mention of a father. All have the surname of WATKINS. Joseph (b.1867) my Great-grandfather is one of those 7 children. Most of this information has been obtained from censuses. Of the 7 children, I have only managed to find a record of one birth, that of Oliver. On his birth certificate the fathers name is left blank. I'm sure there is more to it than meets the eye, especially as the way illegitimacy was looked upon in those times, hopefully something will come to light in the future. Family History of John WATKINS John WATKINS born 1811 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England died 19 Nov 1877 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, buried 27 Nov 1877 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England married 9 May 1831 in Goodrich, Herefordshire, England Comfort COLE born 1807 in Welsh Bicknor, Monmouthshire, Wales, christened 30 Aug 1807 in Welsh Bicknor, Monmouthshire, Wales, died 27 Jul 1885 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, buried 29 Jul 1885 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of William COLE and Martha HOAR 1 Elizabeth WATKINS born about 1831 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, christened 28 Aug 1831 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England married (unknown) 2 Sarah WATKINS born about 1834 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, christened 16 Feb 1834 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England married (unknown) 3 Joseph WATKINS born 1836 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, christened 1836 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, died 5 Mar 1837 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England 4 Esther WATKINS born 1838 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, christened 4 Mar 1838 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England married (unknown) 5 John WATKINS born 1840 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, christened 23 Feb 1840 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England died 1921 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, buried 18 Jan 1921 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England married 7 Oct 1860 in Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England. Annie JONES born about 1840 daughter of Samuel JONES 6 Eve WATKINS born 1844 in High Beech, Gloucestershire, England christened 13 Mar 1844 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England 7 Jane Hannah WATKINS born 1846 in High Beech, Gloucestershire, England, christened 25 Jan 1846 in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England married ? JORDAN. 8 Mary WATKINS born 1853 David Watkins [email protected] http://www.iinet.net.au/~davwat/dwfh/ Darlington, Western Australia