Hello there new to the list and think I have finally found my Yorkshire ancestors, knew they were there somewhere! Have a quandary and would be grateful if anyone can assist or guide me to a conclusion? Have John BATES (aged 28 and noted as a bricklayer) and family emigrating to Australia on board the United Kingdom in 1844. Family were Mary Ann 28 (Nee WALLER) born Sheffield, Yorkshire abt 1815, Alice Elizabeth Bates 3 yrs born Dublin (no luck finding that) and Emma Bates born Yorkshire 7 months. John stated he was born Flintshire but have had no luck finding his birth there. In the records there are testimonials for John from a parish clerk in Denbighshire, a surgeon John Lewis, Sheffield. Then there are householders certifying character Peter Moore, Orange St Sheffield, John Eyre Talbot St Sheffield and his employer was Thomas Hickson, Trinity St Sheffield. His clergyman was from St Marys Sheffield. Cant find a marriage for John Bates and Mary Ann Waller although there is one for a Mary Ann Waller in Manchester Dec ¼ 1839 with a John Hughes on the same page have requested that from the GRO. That may well be a mistranscription and be John Bates. Now I have the birth cert for Emma Bates (born May 1843 in Sheffield) and it gives the name of John Bates and Mary Ann Bates nee Waller as the parents and that they were living in Joiner Lane. Johns occupation is noted as sugar refiner Did a census search and have found a Bates family in 1841 in Joiner Lane not John but a Joseph (60), Sarah (55) and a James (25). My questions, if anyone has managed to get this far, are: 1 Do the names or addresses of any of the men who gave testimonials ring a bell with anyone that might give me a clue as to what John did for a living and how/why he might have been assisted to come to Australia? 2 What might a sugar refiner be doing in Sheffield? 3 Does the name Waller ring any bells with Sheffield people at all? Sorry this sounds a bit fuzzy but hope someone out there may have some ideas Best wishes and thanks Meegan Ipswich, Qld