Hello List My rellies must have loved Essex. I've tracked them from Ireland through India, Malta, Gibraltar, West Indies, Canada, England (Essex), Scotland, South Africa and, finally, back to Essex. After traversing the Empire, my g-grandpa, Francis EARLY, died in Chadwell Heath in 1897. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard of St.Mary's Parish Church, Great Ilford. His eldest son, Francis Frederick EARLY was born in Colchester in 1860 (during the family's first sojourn there) He married Hannah Jamieson NAPIER of Rothesay, Bute. They had two daughters that I'm aware of: Lillian Frances EARLY, b. 1886, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and Margaret Jamieson Napier EARLY, b. 1894, Romford, Essex. 8 years between the births. Were there more kids that I don't know about? Thanks to the generosity of Listers Barbara Scott and Dick Mathews I've learned some things and had to re-assess others. I was under the impression that Frances EARLY had married twice. First in Romford 1904 to Ernest PIKE who died in WW1, then in Rochford in 1918 to Alexander NORMAN. The NORMAN marriage looks good, but the one to Ernest PIKE does not, mainly because he was discharged from the army, alive, in Feb 1918. Anyone know to whom Lillian EARLY of Chadwell Heath was married before 1918? (If anyone) The other girl, Margaret J.N.EARLY apparently married Leslie H.PALFER (PULFER) in Berkshire in 1922. One of her EARLY uncles died in South Africa in 1951 leaving a small legacy to "Mrs Margaret PULFER of Essex", so I guess she couldn't resist the lure of Essex. I'm hoping there are descendants of these people who are dead keen on genealogy and itching to swap notes. Funny thing; my wife, Lynette JOSLIN, and I met and teamed up in South Africa. Turns out her JOSLINs were from Shenfield in Essex. Must be destiny! Best wishes Frank Early South Africa