In a message dated 08/11/2009 16:03:32 GMT Standard Time, chrisjevans57@yahoo.co.uk writes: I have Sam's old diary which notes "At wiltonfurth may-day 1755 and went to see my parents" but for the life of me I cannot trace the name Wiltonfurth (or Wiltonforth as he spells it elsewhere). Other places he writes of include Hethpole, Snitter, Hurton, Netherton and Throckly but I can identify all those within the North-East region. I have "Wilton"s in Hawick, Redcar, N Yks and possibly Newcastle... Does anyone have any idea where Wiltonforth/furth might have been?? If the standard of the handwriting makes it possible, then I wonder whether what you have read as "Wilton" could perhaps have really been"Witton"? In that case, although I don't know of any "Wittonforth " etc, I have to say that there are several Wittons in the NE. Two that come readily to mind are Witton le Wear in Co Durham (where the A68 road, always a major route north, crosses the Wear and so a possible "Witton Ford") and Witton (location of Witton Tower"), just south of Rothbury, from which it is separated by the River Coquet. Unfortunately, at both Witton and Rothbury there is an ancient bridge, though both must have been preceded by fords if we go far enough back! There are also Longwitton and Netherwitton in central Northumberland. Geoff Nicholson