Lureigne wrote..... >>I too have a 'brick wall' on my LAMBERT and BRADFORD. Both reported from England. George LAMBERT b. approx 1855-60 in England came over with his parents ( don't know their names) and settled in Va. I was told they were of some nobility and had a crest and stamp, this was lost some where along the line. George was reportedly booted out of England for doing something wrong. Never could find out. George ran away with Elizabeth BRADFORD, b.? in England ? ( their sulurry maid) to California and mairried approx 1873. This is the extent of my findings so far. I have tried to get a copy of some certifacation of birth on my ggrandmother, Geroge and Elizabeth Lambert's daughter born 1877 in Kern Co., Ca. but have not been able to get any info as the birth in that time period was done at home w/mid-wives. Is there any hope in getting information on these people?<< WELL, 1855/60 is well after civil registration was introduced into England and Wales (in 1837), so there should be a birth certificate somewhere. But I wouldn't like to hazard a guess at the number of George Lamberts you might find being born in just that six-year period - scores, at least, I should imagine. I have stressed this before on this list, but "born in England" is simply not enough! Contrary to what many Americans seem to think, Britain is NOT a small country - geographically, yes, but population-wise, no. The population in the 1850s was probably half what it is today, but still around 30 million. There are 39 counties in England (a county here is more like one of your states, not counties within the states as you know them) and many more in Scotland and Wales, so the number of parishes and registration districts runs into thousands. Your Lamberts and Bradfords could have come from anywhere. Unfortunately, the US immigration authorities, such as they were, and shipping officials of the time have much to answer for in the fact that so many of you folks don't seem to have any idea where in England your ancestors came from. Such a pity they didn't think to ask people and write it down in the records! I suppose to them it really didn't much matter where immigrants came from. Presumably you have tried shipping and immigration lists, etc.? Could I say, BTW, that I would tend to disregard the family stories about being of nobility and having a crest, also of his having run off with a serving girl. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard those tales - I would be a rich man indeed! Have you looked on the IGI for George Lamberts? This may give a clue, although the IGI entries tend to tail off after 1837 after the introduction of civil registration. Bradford is also not an uncommon surname in England, deriving from the numerous places of the name, the principal one being the city of Bradford in Yorkshire. But, of course, surnames were largely formed in medieval times and for someone to be named after their place of origin it normally means they left that place a very long time ago. I am not familiar with the US birth registration system, but surely there must have been some kind of birth certificate issued, even if the event took place at home? Doesn't every state have a civil registration system, as we do, and isn't the registering of births compulsory? If you can get a certificate, it may give more information on the parents. Roy Stockdill Editor, The Journal of One-Name Studies The Stockdill Family History Society (Guild of One-Name Studies, FedFHS) STOCKDILL PREST YELLOW BOLTON WORSNOP GIBSON MIDGLEY BRACEWELL SHACKLETON BRADLEY MOODY in Yorkshire North & West Ridings MEAD YOUNG in Somerset, Wiltshire & Gloucestershire Web page of the Stockdill Family History Society:- http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/roystock ”Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does he will tell you. If he does not, why humiliate him?" - Canon Sydney Smith (scholar and humorist 1771-1845)