Many thanks to Mike Fairless and John Ayton for replying to my initial posting. Mike - no, haven't got the marriage certificate, but it's certainly an idea. John - you asked: > Could you elaborate a bit. Was Isabella Bone a widow when she married James Fawcus and born an Arkle?? No. Isabella was 21 when she married James Fawcus. She was born in about 1840 in Little Houghton, Northumberland; her mother was Margaret Bone, father not stated, and she was baptised Isabella Bone. A year after her birth her mother married Christopher Arkle of Heuxley at Lamberton Toll - an irregular border marriage. The Arkles had 10 other children, the youngest born at sea en route to NZ. Incidentally she died in a shipwreck when aged 33. > In the late 1870s John Arkle aand his wife Margaret emigrated to New Zealand with their children. Their daughter Mary Arkle was married to a Richard Arkle and they settled at Ramarama, South Auckland and the house they lived in is the Pioneer cottage now situated at Roulston Park,Pukekohe. These Arkles were descended from the Arkle family of Elsdon.. Let me konw if you connect with this family. yours John Your John Arkle and wife Margaret Hall were probably not directly related to ours. I need to revise my current information as I've just discovered a possible error. Our Arkles went to Motonua just north of Christchurch in the south island of NZ; Auckland is in the north island. Nancy