Hi Ruth, I know nothing of the Barugh in the West Riding, but Barugh in North Yorkshire sounds like the right one for you, as Kirkdale is only about 7 miles distant. There is Great Barugh and Little Barugh - Barughs Ambo. 'Ambo' means 'together,' (same as in Huttons Ambo, being High and Low Hutton = Huttons together) Barugh is pronounced 'barf' - In one of the censuses, I found a Christopher FOXTON born Bath, Somerset, living in Scarborough. It turned out that he was born in Great Barugh, in the Parish of Kirby Misperton! <vbg> The DOWSON family - My husband's great great great grandmother is Mary DOWSON, born in Barugh (Great or Little, I know not which) and baptised in Kirby Misperton, 17 Sep 1793. Her parents are Thomas DOWSON and Elizabeth SHEPHERD, who were married at Kirby Misperton in 1783. I wonder if your William DOWSON was a brother of Thomas, as they were producing children in that area at about the same time. Your William DOWSON married Elizabeth HUDDLESTONE, 8th December 1789 at Kirby Misperton. Witnesses to their marriage were Francis DOWSON and John SMITH. They produced a son, Francis, baptised K.Misp 26 Jan 1791 and a son, John, baptised 5th November 1792. - Probably others, but I have not made notes of any more. Their place of residence at both baptisms was given as Great Barugh. A William DOWSON of Great Barugh was buried at Kirby Misperton, 26th May 1834, aged 77. This is about the right age to be your William. I hope this is of some use to you. Regards, Janice Wood www.btinternet.com/~jansfamily/ www.yorkshireancestors.com in North Yorkshire Researching: BANKS, BEALL, BULMER, CALVERT, COCKERILL, FISHER, FOX, FOXTON, GARBUT, HARRISON, HAWKINS, HOLYDAY, HURD, KIRK, LOWTHER, MATTISON, NAWTON, PATTISON, PICKARD, PICKERING, POTTER, SCAIFE, SHOUT, SIMPSON, SKILBECK, STONEHOUSE, THOMPSON, TRENHOLM(E), WARRINER, WEATHERILL, WEDGEWOOD, WILSON, and WOOD.