Hi fellow researchers, My name is Ann Harrington and I have just joined the ENG_SOMERSET mailing list. I live in an outer suburb of Melbourne, Australia across from a national park. However, I was born in Michigan, USA, living in various parts of that state until I came to Melbourne in 1976. I went back to Michigan in Dec of 1976, married a boyfriend and he joined me here in April 1977. We have had two children here. I love where I live. I recently came across some of my husband's ancestors who came from Banwell, Somerset in England. I think I may have come across two lines of this family and I am looking for their common ancestor. The first person is a JOHN A. HEMANS who immigrated from BANWELL about 1835. He was married to a MINNIE P HILL. They moved to a village in COLLAMER ONANDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. In 1864 their son LAWTON THOMAS HEMANS was born. When he was around eleven months old they moved to ONEIDA EATON COUNTY MICHIGAN. This is one branch I think. I also have information on my husband's direct line. SYLVESTER HEMANS was born in 1811 at SOMERSET, ENGLAND. He married MARIA BOX, daughter of JOHN and ANN BOX. SYLVESTER HEMANS appears on the census of 31 October 1850 at RICHLAND OSWEGO NEW YORK. Sylvester has nine children and some of them moved to Michigan but some of them remained in New York. Mystery. LAWTON THOMAS HEMANS shows up in connection with SYLVESTER HEMANS' granddaughter GEORGIA LOUISE HEMANS. LAWTON T HEMANS is on a card in GEORGIA'S autograph book. Since both Hemans families traced back to Somerset, I am thinking that they may be related. Another family link to SOMERSET. GEORGIA LOUISE HEMANS married FRANK WILLARD DUCKHAM on 27 March 1895 at her parent's home in LEONI TWP. JACKSON MICHIGAN. It turns out that FRANK'S parents, JOHN DUCKHAM and MARIA STANDFIELD also came from SOMERSET. JOHN DUCKHAM'S grandparents were JAMES DUCKHAM and HONOUR BROWN. His parents were WILLIAM DUCKHAM and ANNABELLA WARREN. They were both born in 1820 in WEARE SOMERSET. Their son JOHN DUCKHAM was baptised 1st August 1852 in WEARE but we think he was born in 1851. JOHN DUCKHAM'S wife MARIA STANFIELD was born in 1850 and baptised on 5 January 1851 at DRAYCOTT CHEDDAR SOMERSET. MARIA'S parents were THOMAS and SARAH STANFIELD. JOHN DUCKHAM AND MARIA STANFIELD were married on the 16 May 1878 at the PARISH CHURCH of WEARE SOMERSET. MARIA apparently has a son already who is called FRANK WILLARD DUCKHAM. He shows up as a three year old in November 1879 on the ship Germanic to NEW YORK. I am looking for his birth or baptism records; probably in Draycott Cheddar. Family lore is that his biological father was someone else than John Duckham. If anyone is researching in these family lines, I would love to connect with you. I would also love to connect with anyone who has old photos collected of these areas of SOMERSET. I am creating a photo album about the lives of these ancestors. Thanks for any tips you can give me. I haven't research much in England yet. I am looking forward to discovering the history in the area of SOMERSET as it would have influenced these family members. I am always interested in why they left their homes. I ended up in Australia because I had an offer for work for 18 months. I had no idea that this decision would shape my future. Leaving my own family roots has stirred up an interest in why these individuals would leave their families behind. I love discovering their daily lives if possible. How did they live? Are any original buildings still around? Or photos of them? Thanks for any assistance with where to search for photos. Sincerely, Ann Harrington