Hi All, I'm wondering if anyone can offer suggestions regarding where the HALLERS came from before 1770. They tend to straddle the Yorks/Lincs border - with a large branch in Hull which started in the late 18th century. The earliest record I have is a marriage in 1770 in Thorne, Yorks. There are quite a few later records of them scattered around the Isle of Axholme and north Lincs and south Yorks. The only theory I'm left with is that, when they moved to Thorne, the vicar of their new parish decided to spell their name a different way from their previous parish & vicar. The name is pronounced with a long 'a' not a short one. So there are occasional variations that are spelt HORLER / HAWLER / HOLAH etc. So I'm looking for; Richard H... born about 1745-1750 who married in Thorne on 20th March 1770 and didn't have the first 4 of his 8 children christened there (Anne chr. circa 1770, Unknown, possibly Richard, chr. circa 1774, Elizabeth chr. circa 1776 & Unknown, possibly John, chr. circa 1777). They were mostly Ag. Labs, so perhaps couldn't afford the fee. Don't think they were nonconformists. Thomas H... born about 1748-1753 who married in Thorne on 23rd Nov 1773. Presumably a brother of Richard. Mary H... born circa 1764 and buried at Epworth Joseph H... born circa 1764 and buried at Belton Joseph H... born circa 1781 in Lincolnshire and buried at Osgodby, Yorks. I haven't found any wills - I think they were too poor. Any advice would be appreciated. ALSO - I have some early original documents which have miraculously survived, and which follow a chain of ownership of land in Belton, Lincs, and I can provide details if anyone is interested. They are; Conveyance, ROBSON to EAST, 1744 Will of Richard EAST of Belton 1767 Deed of feoffment, EVRATT to COY, 1773 Lease for a year, Richard EAST to Richard WINTER, 1788 Mortgage, Richard WINTER to Messrs JACKSON & others, 1791 Bargain & sale, John COY to Thomas GERVAS, 1819 (& release upon trust 1819) Will of Richard WINTER of Belton, 1828 Epworth Court baon, Eliz. WINTER, 1828 Conveyance, LIGHTFOOT to George HALLER, 1846 BURTWHISTLE and JOHNSON also crop up. I believe the COYS are a 'cross border' family as well. There is more, later stuff, some with south Yorks connections, but I haven't worked my way through it yet. It appears to be of lesser interest than the above. Regards Geoff Blyth