Hi Ellen, Thomas was born in 1841, (at sea) and his parents were born about 1820 (Barbara) and between 1810-1820 (Robert). Barbara was born in Ireland, but I haven't got a birthplace for Robert. At his son's baptism in October 1841, Robert's occupation was policeman, but I don't know whether he stayed in the police. In 1904 Thomas's eldest son went to the US, and wrote home from Tennessee. I don't know whether this could be an indication that he visited Tennessee because his father had been there ? One of his children was born there in 1904 and named "Washington George Cecil SMITH", as Washington was the place where he was born. I was rather hoping it might be possible to track the family on a census - but it would be like them to have visited between censuses!! Thank you for your interest. Jeanette > Jeannette - do you have any ages for these people to help us narrow the > search? > Unfortunately, we're not just up against a very common surname and > forenames, so unless he was here when a census was taken or perhaps worked > and appears in a city directory, it may be impossible. > > > Ellen > Virginia USA > > > > > Up till now I've had no experience with US records at all, being under the > impression that none of my ancestors ever went there. But, I've just found > a > letter from my elusive Thomas William Portland SMITH in which he states > that > "the happiest three years of my life were spend in the United States..." . > I've got no idea which part of the US he means, but the era would have > been > during > 1841-1860 approximately. > > Can anyone on the list give me any ideas about where to start searching? > It's likely that he went there with his parents, Robert & Barbara SMITH, > who > were Irish. The last address I have for them is Stepney, London in 1841. > I > realise that Smith somewhere in the US is a big ask!! > > Jeanette > >