Hi Gordon - I did think myself that he could have been her illegitimate son, but then I have come to be quite fond of those rattling skeletons and am not shocked or upset any more (never was, really!) I haven't seen any Martindales on my books yet - did see a Winstanley witnessing the marriage of Elizabeth Peacock and William Bentley in 1872, with Teresa Jolley also witnessing. Marged The 12 year-old scholar Joseph CUTT from the 1841 Census who appeared to have metamorphosed into 23 year-old blacksmith Joseph BURKE (brother-in-law of William PEACOCK) by 1851 had almost certainly metamorphosed back again 4 years later, since Free BMD has this marriage :- June Quarter 1855 West Derby 8b/540 Joseph CUTT and Emily Charlotte FOWLER And the 1861 Census this household :- RG9/2711 folio 123 page 34 23 Henry Street, Everton Joseph CUTTS, 32, blacksmith, LAN LIVERPOOL Emily, wife, 29, LAN Liverpool George H, son, 5, LAN Everton Frederick J, son, 3, LAN Everton William J, son, 9 months, LAN Everton It is of course quite possible that Joseph really was Sarah's brother and not her illegitimate son, as I'm afraid I may have suggested in an earlier post. Hope you haven't forgotten that this family could well turn out to be that of my sister-in-law Linda MARTINDALE nee PEACOCK too? :-) Regards Gordon