Hi Adele: Ernest John appears to have fibbed about his age when enlisting in the Canadian Forces -- perhaps at 40 he may have been considered too old. Mary was conspicuous by her absence from the family in the 1891 census record. However, I did find a Mary PEDEN (right age) as a visitor (along with 26 other people) at 38 West Register Street, Edinburgh (St Andrew). Have no idea what kind of establishment since images not available in Scottish census records. Although the HOLTUMs do not appear to have been involved in the brewing business, there are numerous connections -- Edmund Thompson (brewer) married two sisters (consecutively, not at the same time); John Matthews, who took over the Thompson Brewery in Walmer, married Edmund's daughter Mary Holtum Thompson; Alexander Morton (brewers' clerk) married Elizabeth Bowles Thompson Holtum; and, of course, Alexander Peden married Mary Ann Emily. It seems likely, of course, that Alexander worked at the Thompson Brewery. Incidentally, the brewery finally went out of business in 1974 and was demolished in 1981 -- so went another bit of history! cheers, Harry On 2/15/10 1:19 AM, Adele wrote: > not sure about the entire family, but maybe one served with Canadian > FOrces during WW1, I could check with their Archives on the name.. one > with the name of Ernest served with 18th Hussars.. his next of kin may > have been one of his sisters, Mrs W. Stevenson. Alexanders wife, seemed > to go under two names here in NZ! Mary Ann Emily and Jane Annie and > death registration have both listed!.