Heres Hoping! John NILES stated he was born Co Wicklow on english census returns 1871 to 1891. He died AGED 64 in Sept 1895 in West Cumberland England. 1891 census saw him also 64, 1881 he was 60 and 1871 he was 45. His birth year could be 1820-1831 ish. He was my g g grandad. John NILES is first found in Co Wicklow 4th March 1847. I have a copy of his marriage cert to Bridget Sulavan. The marriage was in Wicklow Church of ireland in Wicklow Town. John NILES was a labourer living in Castle McAdam Coy Wcklow and his father was John NILES- also a labourer. Bridget was livng in Wicklow Town and her father was Patrick Sulavan who was a labourer. John was able to sign his name unlike Bridget. The witnesses were William McPhail and John Milar. Both gave their ages as full age. John NILES next turns up in Avoca RC parish records. On 7 May 1847 he and Bridget have baby Susan baptised. The sponsor was Susan Sullivan. I have no further info on either of these Susans. On 7 June Patrick is baptised- he is my g grandad. Elizabeth Kavanagh is the sponsor. On 16 Feb 1851 Robert is baptised, sponsors beng William Cleary and Bridget Tierney. Griffiths Valuation has John NILES at Knockanree Upper (1854?) John NILES s next found n Avoca RC parish records 1856(curtesy of irish roots free search) By now his wife is Ann and baby Ann is baptised 1856. dont know Anns surname or sponsors. 1858 has Elizabeth baptised ,again Johns wife is Ann and the family are in Avoca RC records curtesy of free search on Irish Roots. Census returns in England show 2 further additions to John and Anns family- john and Ellen both born Co Wicklow circa 1862. I havent found any records of these in ireland... yet. The family move to the Iron Mining area of West Cumberland England by 23 Jan 1865. The first record I have is a death cert of little Ann Niles (baptised 1856). She was burnt to death by her clothes catching fire in Winder Brow. 1871 shows John NILES, his wife Ann, son Robert (Bridgets son), their son John and daughters Elizabeth and Ellen in Winder Cumberland. John is an iron ore miner. By now Patrick is a newlywed having married Mary Donnelly my g grandmother- another Wicklow girl. Patrick is also a miner living in the area. 1881 sees John still working as a miner in the area. His daughter Elizabeth NILES is soon to marry Thomas BRANNON who was also born Co Wicklow. They have a large family in Cumberland. Ellen marries William Robinson, nothing is known about him, and John marries a widow Bridget watters nee Devitt. She was born approx 1861 in Co Wicklow- her father beng Hugh DEVITT - an iron ore miner. By 1891 John NILES is working as a labourer until hs death 1895 from Chronic Bronchitis. Im amazed at how much I now know about John NILES. I have had the honour of visiting the Avoca area of Wicklow and the area of Cumberland where he moved to on leaving Ireland. Both are beautiful places, I hope he had time to see the beauty during his hard life. I dream of knowing more about him, especially his baptism (Im leaning to Church of Ireland but not exclusively) and who mam and dad were. saying that any snippet about him and the people he rubbed shoulders with would be great, especially sponsors of Elizabeth and Ann, baptism records of John and Ellen and what 2nd wife Anns name was. Im ASSUMNG Bridget died after Roberts brth 1851 and he married Ann before little Anns baptsm 1856. Goes without sayng all deviations of NILES welcome. -- Carol Wicklow names Niles Donnelly Sullivan Byrne Fermanagh names I am seeking Harron Love Tyrone names I am seeking Conway Ireland names I am seeking McMullen Roney