Hello all Apart from a response from Doug when this was posted on the Brit Newsgroup, I wonder if anyone else can answer the question at the "end" of this message please? Kate I find the most compelling research that needs to be done regarding William Searby and his marriage to Maria Mannion, (Manion, Manning) has shifted to The USA. According to a birth Certificate I recently purchased http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/Catrina39/library/?sort=3&page= Informant (Maria) was not able to remember date of marriage (a bit suss I think, if your first child was born out of wedlock, a little embarrassing perhaps but not illegal, so a guess would have done) According to the ages of the children, the first was born 1869 the second 1871. On incoming passenger lists a W Searby (the only one I have been able to find) arrived In the USA Aug 1871 so could not have fathered either of these children. I have the birth of the third child Charles as above on Photobucket. The Resources I have been able to access online show two marriages for William Searby, one February another June 1873 neither of which are to Maria Mannion. No Marriage for Maria from those searchable post 1866. BUT the above preamble leads to my Question. Has anyone had experience with retaining a Researcher in The USA to do any research for them? Any response appreciated. Regards, Kate (Sydney, Australia)