Hi, I'm still lurking, and if I can just wean myself off eBay, I shall be rootling around with my rellies again this winter. Here's what I have so far for Hampshire: My Dad was Reginald Wilfred WATKINS (b1917 Alverstoke), son of Frederick Walter WATKINS (b1889 Alverstoke) and Emily COOK (b1890 Forton). Fred's father was Frederick Walter WATKINS (b1860 Shrewsbury), and the big mystery is what brought him to Gosport? How did he meet his wife, Edith Maud SWEETMAN (b1861 Bemisters Lane, Gosport). Edith's parents were John SWEETMAN (b1832 Annshill, Gosport) and Frances BRISTOW from Sussex. The SWEETMAN family goes back thro John SWEETMAN (b around 1801/1806) and possibly Hugh SWEETMAN. They seem to have been butchers by trade. Emily COOK's parents were Thomas Henry COOK (b1859 Forton) and Sarah Ann BARNES (b1860 Alverstoke). Sarah's family were coal merchants and also have strong links with SAUNDERS and SIMS. Her parents were William Thomas BARNES (altho his middle name could have been James - my enduring gratitude to anyone who can unpick this puzzle) (b1836 Alverstoke), and Adelaide Ann OGBURN (b poss 1837, but was it Portsea or Alverstoke?). Hers is another family of butchers. The BARNESs go back thro William and then Cornelius, while the OGBURNS have Thomas. That's as far as I've got, as I can't afford the certificates to verify each individual and there are a lot of duplicated names. Thomas COOKs line goes back via John J and then James COOK, but they and Thomas's mother were both from outside Hampshire. My Mum was Joan Lilian HAMMOND, whose parents were William Henry HAMMOND (b1886 Forton) and Lillian Florence PROOST (b1890 Ryde IOW). The HAMMONDs were Gosport people - Henry James (b1853 Forton), Henry John (b1830 Alverstoke), Henry (b abt 104) and George (nothing known yet). The HAMMONDs married into the WESTBROOK of Droxford and also the REEVES family. Mum's gran, Sarah PAY (b1853, Forton or Harting Sx?) was the dau of William PAY (abt 1824 Petersfield) and Harriett PRIOR (b1830 Harting, Sussex). Mum's other grandparents were Auguste Henri PROOST (b1857 Paris) and Adelaide Sarah FARGE (b1854 St Pancras to Belgian ancestors). They were reputed to be great sweethearts and Auguste was a bit of a bloke from a very noble background. Turns out he may have been running ahead of the law when he came to England and probably never actually married my g'grandmother. By the time they started their family of 10 kids on the Isle of Wight, he'd already had 2 boys with his legal wife in London - even called them the same names. That bit of the family must have been completely swept under the carpet, not least because they died young in poor circumstances, one having been in prison. There are still members of the PROOST family in and around Portsmouth, two of whom have done sterling work in tracing our ancestors. Thank you if you've read as far as this. If anyone has any connections or info to help with my mysteries, do get in touch. Jenny COLE (Coventry) _________________________________________________________________ Make a mini you and download it into Windows Live Messenger http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/111354029/direct/01/