Dear All, I am new to the group. My paternal ancestry is English back to 1638, when Erasmus Townsend married Jane Oliver at Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England. Despite 30 years of vigilance, I have been unable to trace the origins or parentage of this Erasmus Townsend. I have wondered whether he could be from Norway, christened Rasmus Torreson. On his marriage licence allegation bond he made his mark with a "R". To my surprise, I have found a birth entry on the I.G.I., as follows: Rasmus Torreson, birth 1612, Randalberg, Rogaland, Norway. Father: Torres Olsen. This is around the right date. I understand that the parish records for Stavanger do not exist at such an early date. There is, however, a great farm history "bygdebok" for Randaberg. Does anyone have access to this book who would be willing to see if it mentions Rasmus Torreson. Or can you suggest any other records which might help me to establish whether this Rasmus Torreson came to England, or, at any rate, left Rogaland, or find any other information about him? I would be very grateful for your advice. I know quite a lot about English genealogy, but Norway is completely new to me! With best wishes, John Townsend, Wokingham, England e-mail: john.townsend2@virgin.net