Hi there mystery-listers, My first mystery involves my great-great-grandmother. Her name was Ellen DAVEY, born 8 April 1835 (or DAVY, seen both spellings used), supposedly daughter of George and Sarah DAVEY of Exeter, Devon. She ran away from home in late 1849, aged 14, forging her parents' signatures to become a "bounty immigrant" to New South Wales (Australia) on the ship Petrel, giving her age as 18. On the voyage she met two PEET brothers, Frederick (16) and Richard (18). According to my grandmother she had an affair with Fred on the ship, but on reaching NSW married older brother Richard while still only 14 years old. They had 14 children, of which 10 survived, and they were lucky enough to be living in the gold rush area near Bathurst when it started in 1851, so they made their fortune making and selling gold cradles. It seems Ellen probably had no further contact with her birth family, and probably never told them where she had gone. Our family has long wondered about what made her run away, and who she really was. Ellen's origin is a real mystery. She may even have given false information about her past. I have not so far been able to trace her birth or family in Devon. No family information is given on her marriage or death certificate, but the source of her birth date, birthplace and parents' names is a birthday book or bible from the Richard PEET/Ellen DAVEY household, so I assume it is correct. My grandmother transcribed this and other info from the source in 1966 and sent it off to other PEET descendants ... and it recently came back to me via a cousin I had never heard if! Somehow there seems to be a connection between Ellen DAVEY and the surname EDLESTON (or EDDLESTON). This name was used as a middle name for one of their sons (John Edleston PEET) and again for a grandson (Bernard Eddleston DREW). This name does not appear to have any connection with the PEET family, and I assume it must come from Ellen's family, unless it was the name of a friend of Richard and Ellen. Any ideas anyone? How would I trace the family of an English runaway in 1849? Are there any DAVEYs or EDDLESTONs with family legends of a young female runaway? Any advice at all on how to proceed would be appreciated. I'm impressed that a few mysteries have been solved through the list lately ... now I'm hoping it's Ellen's turn. Ruth