Hello everyone My x3 great grandfather John Ruthven was born in Kirby Stephen in 1793. I'm having trouble connecting with the women in his life, namely: 1. His mother, Frances Dobson, b. abt 1764 2. His wife, Agnes Birkett, b. abt 1788 to 1791 3. His daughter Jane Ruthven, who married into a Whitwell farming family, the Dennisons, in 1848. If anyone has these families in their tree, or general tips, I'd love to hear from you. Details are below Frances Parker Australia Frances Dobson married James Ruthven 21 Apr 1785, Kirkby Stephen, age 21 yrs, making her birth date about 1764. Their 4 children were born in Kirkby Stephen: Jane 1786, Richard 1789, Frances 1791 and John Ruthven 1793. Frances Ruthven (senior) of Kirkby Stephen was arrested as a lunatic on 27 Dec 1800, sent to Appleby Goal, and has not been heard of since. She is not in any census records, or free BMD or GRO microfiche death records. The witnesses on the marriage record are illegible and the Kendal records office do not have documents for the goal or KS workhouse for this period. I haven't found any solid clues to her likely place of birth yet and am hoping someone researching Dobsons may be able to help. >From on line parish records it appears Dobsons were not living in KS in the 1760s. Agnes Birkett (itt) married John Ruthven 8 Nov 1813, Holy Trinity Kirkland, age 22, making her b. date about 1791. She died in Sept 1861 age 73 years, making her b. date 1788, the date most commonly listed in the census. Her birth place is listed as Lambrigg in the 1851 and 1861 census. One marriage witness is Mugral Birkett and the records office say this is most likely to be Margaret (eg Margrt). There are lots of Birketts in the Kendal area and some Margarets which could be mother or sister but which ones are hers? Jane Ruthven b 1821 Kendal, m. James Dennison (b. 1827 Selside) in 1848. She was living with James, one child, and his brother John in London at the time of the 1851 census. James and John are the sons of Mary (1797-1877) and John Dennison (1788-1874) from Whitwell Folds, Selside By the 1861 census, James has disappeared, Jane and John are still in London and there are 4 children. By the 1871 census, Jane, John senior, and son John Frederick have disappeared. One son has died. The two youngest children, and an additional child are living at the farm with their Dennison grandparents. John Frederick is living with his uncle in 1881 and takes over the farm from 1891. The other children can be readily traced. Whatever happened to Jane, James and John senior? I'm wondering if Find My Past shows a different record to Ancestry or if they immigrated to the USA as others on both sides of the family had done.