Hi, I just joined this mailing list in hopes of finding information about Caroline Skirls and Thomas Drake. Caroline Sharpe was born 1825 in Cambridgeshire, England. She married a SKIRLS in England and had at least three children: Will SKIRLS - very little information Christopher SKIRLS b. 3 SEPT 1854 Yorkshire, England, never married d 18 MAR 1931 (Kansas) Carrie SKIRLS b. abt 1852 England, married first Hollander (Kansas), second Craig in Kansas Caroline and children came to America in 1857; her husband had already died. They settled near Edwards, Ill. Will stayed in Illinois. Christopher came to Kansas in 1883 Caroline married Thomas Drake in 1857 in Illinois. They went to Kansas in 1872. Thomas was born in England and became a naturalized citizen in Illinois in 1871. All of the Drake children were born in Peoria, Illinois. Any one familiar with the SKIRLS surname? Thanks, Leah Clinkscales