Thank you Dawn for all that information. I am very grateful. Hello Ann, We don't know much about my husband's family except that his father was John born around 1911 I think. We think John's father may have been James. John was killed in the 2nd world war when my husband was a baby and his grandfather had also died previously. We need to get birth & marriage certificates to get started. Somehow these all got lost after my mother-in-law died. If you have a James, born late 19th century we would be glad to know. Mayer is not a common name where we live in Lancashire nor Plymouth where my husband grew up. Is it a mainly staffordshire name? Nice to have heard from you. Jeanne _________________________________________________________________ Get Hotmail on your mobile phone http://www.msn.co.uk/msnmobile