I've managed to track my husband's great-grandfather HWB while he still lived in England: his birth information and the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses. Mysteriously he surfaces in NZ on the 1873 - 74 Electoral Roll for the House of Representatives 36. Byers, Harry William Palmerston freehold Section 21, 26 acres, Palmerston. His Intention To Marry notice, dated 6 July 1875, records him as Harry William Byers, bachelor, “roadman”, 34, living at Palmerston North, length of residence 4 years. I know ITMs refer to length of time in the district. I have not been able to find any trace of him between 1861 and 1873. Similarly, the woman he married has been difficult to track. Jessie (variously also Jesse, Jessy. and Jessey) Louisa Jarrold was born on 4 April 1853 at Stanton, Suffolk, England. In 1871 she was recorded as a "cook, domestic" in household of Evelyn P Meadows (44), 13 Cathcart Rd, Kensington, near central London. When Jessie actually arrived in New Zealand has yet to be established. It would appear to have been some time after the date of the 1871 census and Harry's ITM notice in 1874. Harry’s Intention to Marry notice stated Jessie had been in the Palmerston North district for one year prior to her marrying in 1875. Whoever provided her death details stated she had been in New Zealand for 55 years, that is, since about 1872. While at sea on her way to New Zealand, Jessie gave birth to an illegitimate son. When he died on 31 January 1890 of Tb. at the age of 15, according to his death certificate he was known as Frederick William Byers Jarrold. No record of his birth has yet been found. When he was at school at Stoney Creek he was known simply as Fred Byers. Any help gratefully accepted. Paddy