Hello BevIt was great to hear from you.I'm afraid I don't have very much information on the families before they came to England.I found Patrick and Margarets marriage in Liverpool in 1867, they returned to Ireland where their 1st child John was born in 1868 at this time they were dwelling at the home of Margarets father Francis.They came to England sometime before Dec 17870 when Thomas [ my grandfather] was born in North Shields. They had 10 children in total most born in Sunderland.I was born and still live in Sunderland. Warm RegardsJulia