Hello Jo in Shropshire, Thanks for the input, I appreciate everybody's words of wisdom, it's all food for thought. Des has found a Thomas AUSTIN transcribed as 15 in Kinnersley in 1841, a generation younger than Ann PREECE who is transcribed as 40 in the 1841 census. This has given me clues to follow as Ann PREECE nee NICHOLAS was born in Kinnersley, so I looked for a possible marriage of his AUSTIN father to a NICHOLAS female, thinking that Thomas could be their son. I didn't find this connection but did find a marriage at Kings Pyon in 1791 of Thomas AUSTIN to Sarah PRICE (PREECE?). There are 3 daughters possibly born to this couple in Kinnersley between 1796 and 1806. I have found a birth of a Thomas AUSTIN 21 Jun 1820, baptism 9 Jul 1820 at St Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, s/o Thomas AUSTIN and Sarah, I wonder if this is him, it would have made him 19 in 1841. There are also 3 more children baptised in St Chad to this couple. Could this be the same Thomas sen. moved there for work? That family might be around to support Ann would be possible, she certainly needed it. I have found a baptism for a James PREECE born in 1836 as well as Tracy born in 1839, so as James isn't there in 1841 I suspect that he had died also, and then husband Thomas PREECE in July 1839 and 8 month old Tracy in December 1839, how sad. Kind regards, Cathy in South Australia Hello Cathy in Australia, Age-wise this Thomas Austin is not acceptable for registering death of Tracy Preece in 1839, but may help with elimination of a Thomas Austin if you find him on other censuses. Breconshire 1851 Census HO107:2491: Enumeration District of Hay The whole of the Parish of Cusop in the County of Herefordshire AUSTIN Thomas, sv, u, 17, waggoner's boy, HEF, Nant-y-Glaster? Cusop, 2491/f341/p7 in the household of: WELLINGS William, h, u, 50, farmer 150 acres +, HEF, Nant-y-Glaster? Cusop, /f341/p7 WELLINGS Esther, mt, w, 74, housekeeper, HEF, Nant-y-Glaster? Cusop, /f341/p7 This from the Powys FHS transcription. Cusop and Norton Canon not all that far away from one another. Jo. Shropshire.