Hi Goldie Your mention of Brander in your Shearer line reminded me of some other retrospective registrations which I have come across. Donald Shearer in Cairnhead, Glass and Isabel Brander had three children registered in 1807 but they were born in 1790 (Alexr), 1794 (John) and 1798 (George). The witnesses in 1790 were George Forbes and Alex Gairtly whilst in 1794 and 1798 the witnesses were John Wall and George Robson. Are these your Shearers' Goldie? If so do you know why the registrations were made 17 years after the first birth. One explanation could be that young Alexr at the age of 17 wanted to be come a full communicant member of the Kirk and found out that he did not appear on the parish baptismal register but there may be other explanations By the way, is the John Shearer b 1794 the same John who married Isabel McDonald and lived at Gincomyres in Cairnie? My apologies for this appearing on the Moray list, by rights it should be on the Aberdeen list but it followed up the Irregular marriages thread and I believe the northern part of Cairnie did fall in Banffshire at one time. Regards George -- George Brander Torre de la Horadada España