We are still looking for evidence of the ancestry of Mark Lawson, who was a shopkeeper, of Clayport, Alnwick, in the 1770s. He and his (first?) wife, Dorothy, had a son, John, who died aged 70 in 1823 (in Raskelf, Yorkshire). John was a blacksmith and parish clerk. This suggests he could well be the John Lawson, son of Mark and Dorothy, baptised in Hamsterley (near Bishop Auckland, Durham) in 1753. No other possible birth or baptism of a John Lawson, son of Mark and Dorothy, has been found either in Hamsterley or anywhere else. In the church records in Raskelf, including at John's marriage, John is described as "only son of Mark Lawson of Alnwick and his wife Dorothy". No further children of Mark and Dorothy have been located and Dorothy's death is recorded (in St Michael's church Alnwick). Subsequently, a Mark Lawson of Alnwick also had at least one daughter, who also died young - this could be the same Mark, but there are also one or two others - one of whom was in the Northumberland Militia. A death of a Mark Lawson is recorded in 1801, also at St Michael's, of a labourer aged around 80. Three births of Mark Lawsons are recorded in the surrounding area in the 1820s, in Rothbury, Elsdon (Sopwith) and Lanchester. The family names of the Rothbury and Elsdon Lawsons are both repeated in our family. I also believe that these two families are connected with eace other. I cannot prove, however, that our Mark Lawson is definitely descended from either. Any suggestions welcome! K Lawson. Got a cool Hotmail story? Tell us now _________________________________________________________________ Tell us your greatest, weirdest and funniest Hotmail stories http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/