This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: anniecrenshaw Surnames: TAYLOR Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.tyr.general/6668.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Your family obviously has a treasure of much original information such as the family bible, newspaper clippings, and other documents. You might post your basic query on the GenForum boards for County Tyrone and New Zealand, as well as the Taylor surname. Posting the bible entries on the TAYLOR boards (RootsWeb and GenForum) would share a very helpful resource for other researchers. Your ancestor Sarah Jane ______ apparently married James Taylor before 1866 (the first birth of children you mentioned) and probably much earlier if George, a "last surviving son" of 8 boys, died in 1873. Also, this family emigrated to New Zealand before 1866, and if they emigrated much earlier, say in 1840s-1850s, all their children may have been born in New Zealand rather than in Ireland. Irish civil registrations show that a "James Taylor" married "Sarah Anderson" at Moy Church of Ireland, Dungannon district, Co. Tyrone, in 1855. This might possibly be your ancestor "Sarah Jane." You didn't give a birth year for her, but if she was bearing children until at least 1872, and had had 10 children by 1873, she would be born no earlier than about 1825. Lissan parish Church of Ireland registers begin in 1753, so any records that might include your families there -- Taylor and/or others -- would have very early documentation. Lissan parish is famous for the STAPLES family and their historic home, "Lissan House." The "Cookstown" entry in Wikipedia will tell you all about Derryloran parish (adjacent to Lissan), and its towns, churches and cemeteries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookstown,_County_Tyrone Good luck with your search. Annie C. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.