Hi Mary, I'm afraid it's HANDS. However, as there are far less of them you might find tracking them easier. HAND sometimes becomes HANDS, but I think I've only ever seen HANDS becoming HAND twice in the last 8 years. One tramsformation was around Belbroughton or Hagley, can't quite remember where. Mike > Dear Mike > Is that "Hand" or "Hands"? Witnesses to the wedding in 1844 of my > gggrandparents, Benjamin Bourne and Ann Gateley, were Sarah and > William Hand. I have been unable to find them on either the 1841 or > 1851 census, and have not been looking lately, but your request caught > my eye (distractions are my forte - or downfall), so, if these names > look familiar, please let me know. > > Mary (researching Bourne) -- Mike Yegwart Branch Chairman Bromsgrove BMSGH http://www.bromsgrovebmsgh.co.uk