Hi, I am having trouble knowing how to be certain that I have the right people. If anyone has any tricks of the trade :-) My current problem is - I have an Ann FREEMAN who was trialled in the Old Bailey. She stole some shoes from a Mr. John Walter Shields who claimed that "The prisoner is a relation of my wife's". This was in 1829. So I then went looking and found that Mr John Walter Shields married Mary Sarah HAINES in 1827. Ann Freeman is the child of John FREEMAN and Ann HAINES, so I figured that either the wife was married to Ann Freemans Aunt (her mothers sister) or a cousin so her mothers brothers child. And I have John Walter Shields birth as 24th June 1807 (I saved the entry onto USB but the page didn't have the parish :-() Next time. And I found two daughters to this couple. He was the son of John Shields and Sarah and was a waterman. But this is where I am having trouble. I cannot confirm the birth/baptism of Ann HAINES to get her parents nor can I be certain coming down if I do pick parents and baptism dates. Because of the dates I am leaning towards the cousin theory, but even this I cannot be sure of. John FREEMAN and Ann HAINES married in 1810 in St Olave Any suggestions on how to progress!!!!!? Thank you Pat