Dear List, I have sent versions of this story before, hoping for inspiration from some kind soul. In the hopes that new listers might be able to advise, here it is again! My SOARS family are from Leicestershire. My 4 x great grandfather, Edward SOARS, born in Woodhouse Eaves in approximately 1811, and his wife Mary CAWREY, born in Woodhouse in 1816, are to be found in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire in the 1841 and 1851 censuses with their large family. Countesthorpe is where I was born and brought up, and I am descended from Edward and Mary's son, John Cawrey SOARS, born 1837. Edward, Mary and some of their children re-located to Willenhall, in Staffordshire, sometime between 1855 and 1861. I base this on the fact that several children are christened, en masse, in Countesthorpe in 1855, but by the time of the 1861 census Edward, Mary and some of the children are in Willenhall, under the surname of JOHNSON! I can confirm it is indeed them as I have located them in subsequent censuses, and they have variously used the surname JOHNSON, SOARS-JOHNSON and SOARS JOHNSON (i.e. no hyphen) as well as SOARS. Edward died in 1890 and is registered under the name Edward SOARS. How I actually found them makes a great story. Just picture the 'eureka' moment at the Family History Centre in London, having scanned yards of microfilm on a hunch that they were there because of a SOARS visitor to my Countesthorpe family in the 1901 census who was from Willenhall! I am fascinated to understand why they did this, but to date have been unable to find any information. Can anyone suggest where I might look? Hopeful that someone can help, Judy Evans (nee SOARS).

Richard ROYCE was Christened 3 Oct 1820 to Francis and Mary in Gunby by Sewstern. Is anyone able to help with Francis and Mary's marriage please? Thanks. Mike

Mike, Here's a possibility... Francis ROYCE = Mary ALMOND 1818 Buckminster [source: Leicestershire Marriage Index) Regards, John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike" <casofilia@xtra.co.nz> To: <leicestershire-plus@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 8:56 PM Subject: [LEI] Francis ROYCE Marriage c 1820 > Richard ROYCE was Christened 3 Oct 1820 to Francis and Mary in Gunby by > Sewstern. > > Is anyone able to help with Francis and Mary's marriage please? > > Thanks. > > Mike