I am overwhelmed with the response I have received from my query. I have asked questions on other list serves, with little luck. I have been teary this morning.. From a map Mike Morris sent, I could see Charles hobbling up the street to the mill, perhaps his wife at his side... as you all know, these people become more than names and dates and understanding a bit about his world allows his life to un-fold before my eyes. "...... the streets in the neighbourhood of the mills are thronged with men, women and children flocking to their labour...The factory bell rings from five minutes before six until the hour strikes. Then... the engine starts and the day's work begins. Those who are behind six...are fined two pence; and... after...a very short time of grace, the doors are locked.. A thick black smoke covers the city. The sun appears like a disc without any rays. In this semi-daylight 300,000 people work ceaselessly. A thousand noises rise amidst this unending damp and dark labyrinth...the footsteps of a busy crowd, the crunching wheels of machines, the shriek of steam from the boilers, the regular beat of looms, the heavy rumble of carts, these are the only noises from which you can never escape in these dark half-lit streets...” Smoke from chimneys hung over mills and workers' cottages like a heavy cloud, blocking out the sun. Houses were small, damp, crowded, and sometimes sewage flooded the cellars. Whole families sometimes had to share the same bed which was often just a pile of straw. There were no bathrooms or indoor toilets. Water was collected from a standpipe. A communal ash pit could serve as a privvy for up to 400 people. The air was thick with cotton dust and fluff in the mills. Water provided for drinking was covered in cotton fluff. In some of the mill sheds the temperature reached as high as 82º (20º centigrade). The noise from machinery was deafening. Floors were slippery with machinery oil so people worked barefoot to avoid slipping and falling on the oily floor. There were few safety measures and many accidents. Workers also suffered from many different illnesses. People often worked overtime or during their breaks." I know he immigrated to America in 1856, sailing alone on the Horizon. I can only imagine how the blazing stars and fresh sea air must have felt..especially after reading accounts of the life in Salford. I see him trying to maneuver the stairs between the sleeping quarters and the deck, his eyes fierce with determination. Im still trying to see if he had other kids with his wife, Jane and why he came all by himself. Thanks for any help you can give me.