Hi everyone, Just thought I would join in the merriment with my own little problem. Unfortunately I haven't been able to help anyone else so far. I originally posted this yesterday but used rich text format which I guess is why it lost all of the formatting and became unreadable. I'm trying again in plain text so apologies for posting twice. Joseph Valance (various spellings including Vallance, Vallence, Vallens) was my gx3 grandfather. This is what I 'know' about him: Probably born 1787-1790 in or around Burstow Married Ann - possibly Ann Reed 03/04/1809 in Lindfield (there may have been a second marriage to another Ann - see below) Children - Stephen 1810, Mary 1816 Burstow, James 1819 Burstow, Marten 1824 Worth (died within 2 weeks), Sarah 1825 Worth, Elizabeth 1827 Worth (died 1832), Thomas 1828 Worth, Ann 1831 Worth, Eliza 1834 Worth Died Jun qtr 1867 Reigate vol 2a page 80 (possibly - I need to get the cert) There are various entries for Vallance on the Sussex poor law database including a removal order from Worth to Burstow in 1817 for Joseph, Ann, Stephen aged 7 and Mary aged 1y 4m. This would tie in with the 1809 marriage. By 1841 Ann is living with a William Gibbs and the children appear to have taken his name (this is continued by several of them in later life). However Ann is only 40 so, if accurate, could not have been Ann Reed. There is a death for Ann Vallance Apr qtr 1855 East Grinstead vol 2b page 81. Joseph may be living separately in Worth aged 50. He may have had a brother John (also in Worth 1841) and a brother James (in Burstow 1841). I have been unable to trace him prior to 1809 and have no parents or siblings (other than those already mentioned). Any ideas? Happy New Year. thanks, Anne