Hi Ken It's a pity he hadn't used his middle name when marrying ... there's a lot to find about him, however, presuming the marriage was in Northumberland, these are the possibles during 1852-1861: John Spence Jul-Aug-Sep 1843 Tynemouth Northumberland m. Elizabeth BARKER or Elizabeth Esther GRIGS John Spence Jul-Aug-Sep 1852 Tynemouth Northumberland m. Elizabeth DIXON John Spence Jul-Aug-Sep 1854 Tynemouth Northumberland m. Elizabeth ORAM or Elizabeth Baily MOOR John Spence Jan-Feb-Mar 1855 Tynemouth Northumberland m. Elizabeth CHARLTON John Spence Jan-Feb-Mar 1861 Tynemouth Northumberland m. Elizabeth Ann MELVILLE He appears to have been born in 1837? If so, he may have married before he was 21. You will need to check the 'Elizabeths' against the censuses and also against family search to try to eliminate them by YoB, PoB etc. Also check each of the children's' birth entries, are there any surnames used as middle names? Thomas b. 4 Dec 1856 [see https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J3P3-862] seems to be the oldest [per the 1861 census] ... so it is likely to have been earlier than then. Regards, Fee -----Original Message----- From: Ken Stanger Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 9:57 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [NMB] Spence North Shields Hi, I'm trying to help a lady find her Gt. grandmother. She was Jane Ann Spence born about 1860/1861 North Shields daughter of John and Elizabeth Spence. Can anyone help us find the wife Elizabeth Spence maiden name.