Hi Charlotte, Many thanks for helping out - my problem is now solved thanks to your records! I have a marriage certificate from 1847 for my gt-gt-grandfather Joseph Phethean and his second wife who was reputed to be named Mary Pilling before she married. However, she had used the name "Phillian" as her surname rather than "Pilling" on the marriage certificate and no father's name is recorded. The plot thickens with a copy of a letter that I have been sent from a Bolton resident dated 1954 which suggested Mary was the illegitimate daughter of a liaison between one Jas Longworth, farmer, of Green Fold and a domestic servant working at the farm! I can now confirm that Mary Pilling is present on the 1841 census living with the Longworth family as a servant herself so there is certainly a connection. As to the illegitimacy claim I guess I will never know! Best wishes, Stuart _____________________________________ Stuart Phethean Hampshire, UK Family web Pages: <http://www.phethean.co.uk> http://www.phethean.co.uk _____________________________________