I am trying to find out about my great grandparents on my father, s mothers side. My grandmother, MARY MARGARET TILBURY , was born in India in 1908, and was raised in a convent until her marriage in Sept 1927 in Lahore , to my grandfather , HERBERT JAMES BALLANTYNE . The family have always wondered about her family of origin, and she spent her life often sad as she never met them. Members of my family have various stories, speculations and accounts , all similar, unproven, and yet conflicting. An uncle recalls a secretive culture concerning such matters and recalls overhearing the name WILLIAM HARRY TILBURY , and my recent research has discovered a MILITARY OFFICER with the same name who served in India around a credible time for him to possibly be her father. There are few other candidates, initially I thought a HENRY AUGUSTUS TILBURY, also a Military man, whose family have extensive history in INDIA , with accounts of events that seemed credible too. We do know for certain her father,s name was A " HARRY TILBURY" HE IS ACKNOWLEWDGED ON HER MARRIAGE RECORD. There is no mention of her mother, and no one seems to of been able to find a record of my grandmothers birth . I recently managed to find an elderly gentleman who knew my grandmother, I was trying to find out what the connection to the CLAYTON FAMILY that several of my uncles mentioned. The marriage record also mentioned a witness, an EK CLAYTON , and this turned out to be the gentleman whom I founds father! He was able to tell me how he knew her, his mother worked as a volunteer at the CONVENT OF JESUS AND MARY IN LAHORE , and when my grandmother was due to leave the convent as a young lady , Mrs Clayton was asked, as was the custom, if she knew anyone wanting a wife! Her husband , Edward Kenneth , knew the Ballantyne family well, he had gone to school with my grandfather, s brothers at the Bishop cotton School in LAHORE , and they were aware young Herbert was indeed seeking a wife! Consequently, my grandmother came to live in their home as a member of their family for some time whilst a match was made . Mrs Clayton took her under her wing. It was the only family she knew prior to marrying and starting her own, and we believe that when late in life she asked my youngest uncle to find her half brothers she meant the Clayton boys she had spent time with. My priority and focus in my research for some time , has been to correctly identify who her father was , as I said , there are a few , but not many possible candidates, and I had earlier focused my attention on one HENRY AUGUSTUS TILBURY , As details seemed to add up, however, contact with a descendant has meant that this now seems unlikely, but can't be completely ruled out at this stage we would like to learn as much as we can about her family and the circumstances of her relinquishment . we suspect her mother died, and her father being a Military officer (I am told that that would of been the only way the nuns took her, I her upbringing was paid for, as my elderly gentleman contact, son of the Claytons tells me that only kids of Military families went to the convent, as the nuns were quiet poor). I have written to the convent now that we know which one (only recently after finding Mr Clayton ) in the hope some records have survived, a long shot, but worth a try! We may get some clues, but I expect it is unlikely we will ever learn the name of her mother. I think it likely she was at least Anglo indian or had mainly indian heritage, and I also think it likely that Harry Tilbury would have had a wife, perhaps back in England? Whilst he was serving in India. Several lines of enquiry are being pursued ! I have recently received my results of Ancestry.com.au DNA TESTING which confirms Indian heritage. I am hoping this may also help us find out ' WHICH Harry Tilbury was my GG grandfather !! Can anyone assist further ? WE ARE CLOSER THAN EVER BEFORE ! it would mean a lot if we could accurately settle this mystery of our heritage! I also feel we owe it to my grandmother, she was often deeply distressed about not knowing her family. Kind regards, liz