What a buzz to come back from holidays, find so much activity on Fleming-L and the 1881 English census CDs waiting for me. My line: George Fleming b1791 Battersea, London, England to George & Frances (nee POWELL m.1781 Battersea) - definitely not their native parish. He could well be one of the many sons (b1755) of John & Abigail Fleming, victualler of London (another son, Franics, became a lighterman) but I need more supporting evidence. George & Frances had 4 known children: Elizabeth (1785), Sarah (1788), George jnr and his only known brother John (b1782). Both sons became lightermen. I believe only possible at this time if other family members had been lightermen. John gained his 'freedom' at Wandsworth and married (tautology??) 1807 at Battersea, Mary CHALLONER. They had 4 children at Wandsworth: John James (1807), Eliza Mary (1809), Mary (1811) and George Richard (1814). All attempts to trace them have been unsuccessful beyond the family's relocation to neighbouring Vauxhall 1815. Brother George, (1791-1858) lighterman, m.1817 Battersea to Mary MCLEAN (1791-1879) of Vauxhall. They later purchased property and land in East Lane, Bermondsey, London. Children: * Richard John Philip Fleming, tanner, sheep farmer of Port Levy, NZ b 1819 Vauxhall m.1stly 1843 Emma LEE of Horsleydown, London. emmigr 1850 as part of first settlement to Christchurch, New Zealand. m 2ndly 1869. Had a large family but the line appears to have died out.. * George Fleming, merchant, my 3G grandfather, most elusive!!! can only find business addresses for him after 1851. b.1818 Vauxhall. m.1838 Bermondsey Eliza KING. Seemed to live in Lewisham area, was still alive 1879. Don't think he died in England or NZ. Couldn't even get himself into the 1881 census! (she notes affectionately). Children: Elizabeth Mary Fleming (1838- ); Robert George Fleming (1840 - 1906); George Warren Fleming (1841- ) - these two emmigr to NZ as teenagers; Isabella Ann Wales Fleming (1843) m. George Robert MASCALL, clerk; Catherine Mary Fleming (1848) m. George Turner, jeweller; Alfred Fleming (1850); William Fleming (1851) m Elizabeth HOBDAY. * Isabella Catherine Fleming (1821-1901) m.1847 Bermondsey, William MORTLEMAN, master mariner of Folkeston, Kent, England and had a large family. * John Fleming (1828 - 1868) lighterman, inherited family business. m.1stly 1852 Catherine Johnson, d 1858. m 2ndly Marianne Charman SHAW (1859) d.1868. Their youngest child died of pulmonary TB the following year. Currently trying to establish what became of these orphaned children and trace descendants. Ruth Rathbone