Hello List I am searching for the origins of my great grandfather Robert James WALKER, born in Belfast on 29th September 1854 and I would be grateful for some pointers as to where to look.. He went to Sheffield, Yorkshire sometime after 1871 (or he missed the 1871 census). He married Mary Ann SLATER in 1876 in Sheffield. On their marriage certificate Robert's father was named as John Walker, Grocer Robert's sister Elizabeth WALKER, born about 1861, married Mary Ann SLATER's brother Thomas SLATER in Sheffield in 1882. On their marriage certificate Elizabeth's father was named as John Walker, Gentleman. Are there any Grocers' federations or the like, that might have lists of names so I can pinpoint the area of Belfast they came from. I only have their father's name not their mother's name. Though I suspect the mother might possible be Martha as both Robert and Elizabeth named one of their daughters Martha - a name not found in the Slater tree for the past 100 years. Any help would be gratefully received. Regards - Ann in Oakerthorpe, Derbyshire, England

Dear Ann You could order a photcopy of the brith certificate from the General Registar Office in Dublin. Check the website. The certificate wll give you the mothers name. I am going the local FHC tonight so I will lookup the index reference for the births and get back to you. Glen Alderson Calgary Alberta Canada