I had a look at the 1841 online census for a Sarah Innes, and I found this one: Piece: SCT1841/160 Place: Kirkmichael-Banffshire Enumeration District: 8 Civil Parish: Kirkmichael Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Tomintoul Folio: 8 Page: 7 Address: Tomintoul East Side Of Village Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks INNES George M 30 Shoemaker Banffshire INNES Ann F 25 Outside Census County (1841) INNES Christian F 5 Banffshire Page: 8/8 INNES William M 3 Outside Census County (1841) INNES James M 2 Banffshire INNES Sarah F 3m Banffshire GRANT Jannet F 20 Female Servant Outside Census County (1841) This Sarah is the daughter of George Innes and Ann Grant, and was born on 13 February 1841 in Kirkmichael, Banffshire. The name Sarah is very uncommon in this area, so I surmise that George may be a brother of your Helen. It might be worth trying for a death of George Innes, born 1805-1811, to see if he is indeed Sarah Welsted/Neilsted's son. It may help with the search for the death of father John, and with deciphering Sarah's surname. There is juts one John Innes old enough to be Helen's father and living in Kirkmichael or Inveravon without a wife or family: Piece: SCT1841/160 Place: Kirkmichael-Banffshire Enumeration District: 1 Civil Parish: Kirkmichael Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 1 Page: 1 Address: Tomachlaggan Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks INNES John M 55 Blacksmith Banffshire HEPBURN James M 35 Mason Banffshire HEPBURN William M 35 Mason Banffshire Was your Helen's father a blacksmith? If so I think this is likely to be the one you are after. Given that ages in the 1841 census were (supposed to be) rounded down to the nearest 5 years, he could have been born any time between about 1780 and 1785 - but if, as you say, he was still living in the 1860s, the 1851 census should give his exact date. Hope this helps Anne