I have been trying to find out about a man who married my great great aunt Annie ROBERTS at West Bromwich in April 1899. He is listed as: John Thomas MINSHULL, age 41, bricklayer, son of Joseph MINSHULL Steerer. Now a steerer is usually a canal boatman and I have revisited the 1881 census to see if this marriage certificate info makes any more sense. I find the following: John Thomas MINSHULL born about 1843 with a wife and 6 children, born Wolstanton, living 1 TramWay Stoke on Trent occupation Mechanical Engineer. There is also a Joseph Minshull age 60 on a boat "Dreadnought" at Wolstanton. This is currently speculation, but they look as though they may fit into my pattern and are worth investigating Does anyone know anything about this family? My problem is that "JT" comes from nowhere marries in 1899 and disappears by 1902. According to his descendents he married "our" Annie illegally and they were forced to annul the marriage. He is also reported to have died in 1902 after the annulment. I am working with JT's grandaughter to try and find out more about her family, as she started out knowing only hearsay on this. Marilyn