Jan, this is a great idea. There are quite a few people, but I'll choose one, my gt grandfather James Blackburn. Please tell me if the photo I have of the very old lady in a shawl, taken in Bradford in the 1800s was your mother, Elizabeth OATES.. Why did your mother re-marry to Samuel BARRACLOUGH, a man 30 years younger? Why he write that mysterious note for her about her children and what does it mean? James, you married Sarah Ann ROLLINSON but who is the Tom Rollinson who is living with you on the census, called nephew. It says his mother was the son of an innkeeper and her name was Anne. What happened to him? And, James, after Sarah died and that witchy Mrs Salt sued you for breach of contract to marry, what furniture was it that she accused you of hiding? Was it by any chance the tall case clock that was brought over here from England in 1934? Why was that clock so important? Was it cut down so that it could fit into your brother's house? James, please describe the leaflet from Crofts & Perkins that showed a photo of you standing next to a great big machine, at least tell me the date so that I can find it in some archives and see what you looked like. Lastly, James, despite the scandal about you and this Mrs Salt who caused you to go bankrupt, I think you must have been a good man. You should have received credit for your split pulley invention, not just a pittance from the company that stole it from you. You raised your children well, you worked hard, and you didn't deserve the treatment you got. (I'm so glad you came here for Christmas) Best, Lois Lois Blackburn Massachusetts Blackburn, Carr, Dixon, Murgatroyd, Oates, Rollinson, Sugden, Thornton all WRY, mostly Halifax & Bradford. --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.