Hi Arlene, Before this goes any further I think I should say that my original e mail was really two separate queries. The first has been resolved, i.e. Female servant . The second query was about the initials SS after the mans name. It was a Joseph Sweetenham? SS married as a widower aged 54 in 1893, occupation, labourer. His (dec) father was Thomas Sweetenham SS, Sinker. I've looked on the 1881 census, there are only three possibles, none born in Staffs. The most likely seems to bethe one born in Gosport, and his occupation was Bargeman. Could the SS be related to his occupation? As he is not in my direct line, I shall have to just wonder, I suppose. Thanks for your time and interest. Thanks also to others who took their time to respond. Cheers, Jean. -------Original Message------- From: Arlene Hetchler Date: 02/11/05 15:57:57 To: j.ankers1 Subject: Re: [STS] Re: initials Jean, What did he list as his profession in the 1841 census? Also, did he sign his name or make an 'X' on his marriage cert.? Arlene __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250