I wonder if any kind person can assist in tracing some of my ancestors who went to America in the 1850's. I have been reasonably successfull in researching this line, but have now hit a bit of a "brick-wall". The information I have to date is as follows :- George TEMPLE, the 2nd. son of George and Barbara Temple, was born in 1831 at Netherton, county of Northumberland, England. He was baptised at St. Cuthberts church, Bedlington 6/11/1831. Like his father, George became a coal miner and the U.K.1851 census records him, age 19, and living with his parents and siblings. Sometime around 1855, George emigrated to America. The 1860 census at Steuben Town, Marshall county, Illinois, records :- George TEMPLE age 27, coal miner, born England, Jane TEMPLE, Wife, age 25, born England, William TEMPLE, son, age 2, born Illinois. I've found no record in Britain of George's marriage to Jane, so It's possible he married her in Illinois around 1857/58. The 1870 U.S. census records the family at Streator, La Salle county, Illinois, as follows :- George TEMPLE age 38, grocer, born England. Jane TEMPLE, wife, age 36, born England. William TEMPLE, son, age 11, born Illinois. John S. TEMPLE, son, age 8, born Illinois. James F. TEMPLE, son, age 2, born Illinois. Anna M. TEMPLE , daughter, age 5, born Illinois. George died 30//1/1873 and his wife Jane remarried 29/10/1874 at Streator to a Henry Clark, age 46, a coal dealer, born in England. Jane had two further children to Henry and the Illinois 1880 census records the family still at Streator, as follows :- Henry Clark, coal dealer, age 51, born England. Jane Clark, wife, age 45, born England. Mary Clark, daughter age 5, born Illinois. Charles Clark, son, age 2, " " . William TEMPLE, step-son, age 21, coal miner, b.Illinois. John S. TEMPLE, step-son, age 16, " " " James F. TEMPLE, step-son, age 12, scholar. " " Anna M.TEMPLE, step daughter, age 14, scholar, " " >From this point onwards, I've lost trace of the TEMPLE siblings, and I believe the records of the 1890 census were destroyed in a fire. I've checked the Illinois state marriage records, but there are so many William's, John's, James's and Anna's, that I can't identify which are the children of George and who they married/what children they had. That's why I need some assistance now, please. Mike Temple, Spain. "