My ancestors, Thomas MARE (MAYOR) and Catherine BOWSKILL married in Preston Parish Church on 9th June 1766, by banns. The witnesses were Henry BARNES and Thos. CLARKSON. Thomas MARE said he was a weaver. Their (known) children were: 1) James, born 16 Sep and bap. 12 Oct 1766 Preston, St. John. James was a woollen draper, hosier, & property owner & married Ellen CROFT of Lancaster 23 June 1800. 2) Ann, bap. 18 March 1768 Preston, St. John. Married Thomas WHITTINGHAM 17 July 1791. 3) William, bap. 6 May 1770 and buried 25 May 1771, Preston. 4) Ellen, bap. 26 April 1772 Preston, St. John. Married Robert PENNINGTON 4 March 1802 in Liverpool, St. Nicholas. 5) Thomas, born 6 April 1775 and bap. 1 May 1775, Preston St.John. (My ancestor). He married, firstly, Julia NIGHTINGALE, then after her death went to Northumberland, where he married Mary WALKER at Berwick-on-Tweed in 1815. 6) William, born 28 April 1776 and bap. 19 May 1776, Preston St. John. Known to be alive in 1784. No further information. 7) Bella or Isabel, born 29 Nov and bap. 25 Dec 177, Preston St. John. Known to be alive in 1785. No further information. 8) Joseph, born 11 Nov and Bap. 12 Dec 1781, Preston St. John. Known to be alive 1785. No further information. 9) Catherine, bap. 21 March 1784, Preston St. John. Died unmarried in Preston on 19 January 1844. Her will described her as "formerly of Salford". The Thomas MAYOR/MARE who married in 1766, was buried in Preston St. John churchyard on 4 March 1795, aged 52. Letters of Admon. were issued to his widow, Catherine, Thomas WHITTINGHAM and James HOWARTH or HAWORTH (both spellings were used). Thomas Mayor was then described as a hosier and his personal property was worth less than £600. Various leases in Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston describe Thomas as an "Innkeeper", and an inn called the "Roast Beef" is mentioned in his son James's will. I know nothing of the parents of Thomas Mayor or when or where he was born, and would love to make contact with anyone researching this family. There were stories in the family of amorial bearings, which I suspect have no substance to them, and have their origins in Victorian snobbery. There was however, in the will of a grand-daughter of Thomas and Catherine, mention of a portrait of Catherine. I would love to know what happened to that! Jan Craig, Ashton, Chester Grand-daughter of Erna Violet Shingler nee Mayor.