Dear List, This is my first posting. I have but one possible Huguenot in my family, named Jessie Mary DE LA TECHFORD, my GG-Grandmother. I have not been able to find that surname anywhere, which I find a little surprising after two years searching. My best documented close kin is my G-Grandmother, Jessie, who married Charles ELLIS, in London, in 1873. Jessie's parents' names, and her father's occupation, come from her death registration. The handwriting is good, so the spelling of De la Techford, given here, is probably correct. An extract from the family tree follows: --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 unknown SMITH --------------------------------------------- Spouse: Jessie Mary DE LA TECHFORD Children: Jessie Mary (ca1857-1918) 1.1 Jessie Mary SMITH --------------------------------------------- Birth: ca 1857, London, England Death: 2 Apr 1918, 7 Melville St, Dunedin. Burial: 4 Apr 1918, Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, New Zealand, #936 Reli: Anglican She may have been a talented pianist, according to Jessie MARSHALL (Wellington, 1996). Her father was described, on her death registration, as a piano-maker. Anne SMITH's letter of 3 April 1997, says, "Also, Mum said she had a very musical (great?) grandmother called Helen SMITH-have you found her? She was said to have a French connection-born there or some such." Is Jessie Mary De La Techford, the French connection? Research: Death reg. #1558 (Dunedin Southern Cemetery #936) Her father's first name is not given on her death registration, just her mother's, and her mother's maiden name. But her father's occupation was piano-maker. On her death registration, her age at marriage was given as 18 years, herbirthplace was given as London, and she was said to have been 43 years in NZ. Her surviving children were said to be aged: M 43, 40, 37, and F 41 years. Spouse: Charles ELLIS Birth: ca 1851/1852, West Ham, Essex, England Death: 19 Jul 1913, 7 Melville St, Dunedin, NZ Father: Charles ELLIS Mother: Susanna SMITH Marr: 31 May 1873, London, England Children: Charles (1874-1972) Jessie (1876-1954) George (1878-1905) Walter (1881-1952) Alfred (ca1884-1894) --------------------------------------------- Please report corrections and additions to: Denis Wederell 6 Monaghan Ave Karori WELLINGTON New Zealand 6005 Does anyone know the name DE LA TECHFORD? Or know of a piano maker named SMITH (what a hope) in London at that period? Anything at all would help.