Nancy Along with the census data I provided to you earlier I also provided this entry from FreeBMD for James' death - right age, location and explains why his wife is a widow in 1871, which the Dec Q 1871 death would not: From FreeBMD: Deaths Mar 1867 Fawcus James 29 Newcastle T. 10b page 87 Ingrid On 12/12/2009, at 11:33 AM, Nancy Gibb wrote: >> Eleanor wrote: A few days ago I discovered an 1877 book online by >> the title of "The >> Letters of the Late James Fawcus MD". > > What a wonderful resource. But alas this James is not "my" James, > who I've now established was almost certainly the son of Francis b. > abt 1808 in Newham near Eglingham and his wife Margaret Hay b abt > 1811, Todlaw Moor NBL. Their only son James was born about 1837 in > Heworth, Co. Durham according to various censuses, married in 1861 > in Newcastle and was a guard on the NE railway in 1861. > > A distant cousin says she thinks James died in a railway accident. > The 1871 Census shows Isabella his wife as Head of household and a > general dealer in Pilgrim St Newcastle, which I understand is still > one of the main shopping streets. My cousin theorises the railways > may have given her some assistance. A James Fawcus died in Tynemouth > in Dec 1871. I really will have to get his death certificate, it > seems!