About a dozen 2C & 3C are researching this line. Working backwards via each of our own parents, we've come to an enormous brick wall, which stops with my 2 x great-grandparents. We'd always known them as Edward Bauld STONE and Mary Elizabeth PHILLIPS born Yaxley, c1823 and 27 September 1824 respectively. Says so on their gravestones! They are in the 1871 through 1901 census' in Canada, as such. In the 1881, Edward's father [Edward STONE] is in the household - age 81, a farmer, born in England. We found them on the Yaxley 1851 census, with their first born son, borders in the household of Mary's father, Thomas PHILLIPS. They are listed under the surname STONE. Unfortunately, Edward is (birthplace) "unkn". Mary and father were born Yaxley. Imagine our surprise when one of the cousins discovered her great-grandfather's birth cert (household possessions), which stated his surname was BALLS [Edward] born 1850 Yaxley. We then found a marriage for Edward BALLS and Mary Elizabeth PHILLIPS, 20 September 1849 Yaxley. Her father is stated as Thomas PHILLIPS, but his father is down as Edward STONE. Another cousin unearthed her great-gf's birth cert (2nd child), which stated his birth was in Whittlesey in 1852. His surname is also BALLS. So we find they are using the STONE surname, but registering the children under BALLS. We've yet to find the 3rd child, Alice born c1854, under either surname with the correct parents. Nor can we properly identify Mary Elizabeth PHILLIPS with the correct mother. There were 2 Thomas PHILLIPS' who had daughters born around the same time, in Yaxley, with the forename Mary. The family arrived in Halifax County Nova Scotia c1855. No passenger list, so far located, has them under either surname. All successive children were born in Halifax Co. NS and nearly the whole family (7sons & 2 daughters) is well documented from that time on. In a 1948 newspaper item, 92 year old son John states "my family came from Yorkshire". We are still stuck in Hunts, looking for leads, which so far don't go in any direction. Fourth son, Benjamin STONE (1858-1941) married (c1883 Halifax) Sarah Louisa DAVENPORT (c1864-1932). For a short time they resided in Clarkston & Spokane Washington. Then lived in Riverside California for 60 years, where both died childless. A niece, Margaret Ellis STONE (24 Feb 1883 Dartmouth NS - 1 Dec 1965 San Diego) wife of G. D, ERVIN; daughter of 2nd son Robert STONE and Margaret MCKENZIE was living in Pacific Beach, in 1941. Oldest daughter Alice [BALLS] STONE (c1854-1942) married (c1882) James E. KERR (c1855-1922). They lived first in Millbank South Dakota, then Spokane Washington. One son James A. KERR (unkn BMD). Sixth son, Charles STONE (c1866-?) first lived in Windum Minnesota, later thought to have gone to Idaho or perhaps Utah. Nothing more is known regarding him. Second daughter Rebecca STONE is 18 years old in 1881 census. Whilst all the others are mentioned in Edward Bauld STONE;s (BALLS') probate records of May 1903, Rebecca is not. We can find no death nor marriage records for her. The other sons remained in Nova Scotia (Halifax, Oxford & Cumberland Counties), with their escendants now scattered throughout Canada & the USA, although the majority are still in Nova Scotia. Any connections? Toni ~ Ontario