The John SLATER mentioned in Karen's query is my Grandfather!!! He was born in Cleckheaton, Yorks. and went goldmining in the U.S.A.. He eventually worked on the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada, . made good, and at the age of 38 came back to England where he married Kate BRANSON aged 20. They were married in her home village of Sawtry.Hunts. in 1877. Kate didn't want to go back to Canada with him, so they settled in Sawtry and raised their family, living as a "gentleman" on his goldmining income. About the year 1900 he went over to Canada to investigate the decrease in his income and died there in 1901 in his Hotel bedroom. I believe it was the Colonial Hotel which he owned. He is buried at Soda Creek. There's a lot more to this story, but I thought I would settle the mystery of the goldminer from Sawtry. Mary, New Zealand