Hello All, I don't know whether I've posted this question, so apologies if I'm repeating myself. Ancestors of the above surname (in its many variations) were supposedly married in Sheffield an then came to Australia sometime in late 1858 or early 1859. I 'think' I can pinpoint this approximate date because George and Charlotte's 3rd daughter was born in June, 1859 at Rockley, near Bathurst, N.S.W. George SHEPHARD(sic) says he was b. in Yorkshire about 1829. Charlotte (who says her maiden name was also a variation of SHEPHARD) says she was b. in Derbyshire, about 1832. There is no marriage in England I can find of two SHEPHARDs. They apparently came to Australia with 2 little daughters, Hannah Elizabeth and Sarah Ann, aged 4 and 2 in 1859. Have been unable to find them on any ship, so maybe they were unassisted. George gives his parents as James SHEPHARD and Sarah WINTERBOTTOM. James was supposed to be a farmer. Charlotte does not know the names of her parents, but says that her father was a farmer also. I have been unable to find either of them on the 1841 and 1851 Census. The IGI has no marriage of a James SHEPHARD to a Sarah WINTERBOTTOM. Does any kind lister have any idea which I could follow up or (dare I hope??) is researching this family? (A small possibility springs to mind that George may have been married before and his wife died, then met up with Charlotte and they never actually married.) There is a George SHEPHARD who married an Emma STREET (dau. of Samuel STREET and Hannah BARTHOLOMEW), who died in 1857 (Free BMD). I know this seems to be 'plucking at straws', but I'm totally brickwalled. Best wishes, Carolyn in Bathurst N.S.W. Australia. -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 273 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len