Hi Diane, Thankyou for the message. I will keep what you say in mind for the future. My husband's family had heard that there was a French connection back in the past, the son Napoleon's daughter was well known by family members and she probably spoke of her grandfather George Frederick having been French. This is what makes me think that George Frederick Michshel could have been the Frenchman, he does seem the most likely person if anyone had been French within the family, he was definitely shown born Foreign in the 1841 census. I know that in French the name George would be spelt with an s on the end, Georges, or something like that. I don't speak French so am not to clever at spellings in that language. Not sure how the equivalent of Frederick would be spelt in French, would it's equivalent be Ferdinand? I wonder if George Fred'k changed his name to the English version when he landed in England, which would have been prior to his marriage in 1826. George, according to his age at death in 1854, would have been born about 1789/90 or so, and therefore aged about 35 when he married in London in 1826. As he named his second son Napoleon, George Fred'k. was surely a Republican and may have been a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. After the end of the wars and the Kings return to France in 1815, perhaps George, as a Republican, could not live under the rule of the king and decided to leave for England about that time. He may not have been able to read and write his own name and the English version of his name is what was written on his behalf in the English records. Quite likely one of his children, or his wife, filled out the census forms for him and wrote his name in the English style. Two of his daughters had unusual names for the time, one had the middle name of Miranda and the youngest daughter was called Hermasfred? or something similar. Where does such a name as Hermasfred come from? She bears this name from her baptism to her marriage give or take a letter in the spelling here and there. Is it a French name? Should it be written Hermes Fred? I have no idea and have been puzzled about this name for years. If only I could find an Immigration record for George Frederick coming into England prior to 1826, but to date I have not found such a record. Regards Jenny DeAngelis <<I can´t help you specifically but a few years ago I was tracing a family for a friend. One of her ancestors was also named Napoleon; this was about the same time frame as yours. He married in England but I was lucky enough to discover that he originally came from Canada. Just a thought as your George Frederick may possibly have originated there too, especially considering his more English forenames. >>

> As he named his second son Napoleon, George Fred'k. was surely a Republican > and may have been a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. After the end of the > wars and the Kings return to France in 1815, perhaps George, as a > Republican, could not live under the rule of the king and decided to leave > for England about that time. He may not have been able to read and write > his own name and the English version of his name is what was written on his > behalf in the English records. Quite likely one of his children, or his > wife, filled out the census forms for him and wrote his name in the English > style. Two of his daughters had unusual names for the time, one had the > middle name of Miranda and the youngest daughter was called Hermasfred? or > something similar. Where does such a name as Hermasfred come from? She > bears this name from her baptism to her marriage give or take a letter in > the spelling here and there. Is it a French name? Should it be written > Hermes Fred? I have no idea and have been puzzled about this name for > years. George Frederick doesn't sound French (even adapted French).If from Georg Friedrich (like Handel) could be German or Swiss. The Michsel might be a warped Michelle, Mischel. Hermes fred for a female??? Could this be a misreading of Hermentrud (usually anglicised as Ermentrude. > Again, this points to a possible German or Swiss origin, or maybe Alsatian. Origins as diverse as formerly in the German legion (ex Hanoverian estates), or a French waiter? You should get an occupation for any baptisms 1813 onwards. , EVE Author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society