I wonder if anyone could help me with any details about my paternal family tree. The name I am looking for is Gatiss and much of my research has centered around St Mary's Heworth. I have a particular problem in tracing a James or Joseph Gatiss who had a son John Gatiss b.c. 1816 Lamesley/ Ravensworth. I have traced John's family who lived in and around High Lanes for many years but there is no record of John's birth. His 'father's' names come from marriage certs and it is almost without doubt they are one in the same John on each certificate. Has anyone any details about this name/ family and/or any advice about why there could be two fathers?

On 22/03/2010 21:16, C Bridges wrote: > Has anyone any details about this name/ family and/or any advice about why > there could be two fathers? Unfortunately the common abbreviations for Joseph and James, ie "Jos" and "Jas", are often confused. So I reckon that the father's name on one of the certificates was abbreviated at some point and then misread. Brian -- Brian Pears (Gateshead, UK) http://www.bpears.org.uk/ Joint List Admin NORTHUMBRIA Genealogy Mailing List GENUKI Northumberland Maintainer