Dear Listers Thank you for the extra information. I have just checked on the Scotlandspeople site and have found four James Thomson born between 1860 and 1862 in Orkney. Unfortunately none have the exact birthdate listed on my James' death certificate and thus the birth date may be incorrect. Also, I can't see any link yet to the other families I mentioned. The details I found were as follows:- James Thomson, born 10 August 1860 on Hoy to James Thomson, blacksmith, and Charlotte (couldn't read maiden name). James Thomson, born 10 June 1861 at Renwick on South Ronaldsay to Donald Thomson, fisherman, and Barbara Thomson nee Gray who were wed 9 March 1858. James Thomson, born 5 October 1861 at Holland on Papa Westray to John Thomson, ploughman, and Elizabeth Thomson nee Mackay who were wed on 24 October (year looks like 1867 but couldn't be). John James Thomson, born 20 November 1861 in Papdale Kirkwall to James Thomson, farmer, and Jane Thomson nee Sinclair who were wed on 7 January 1847 on Sanday. To use up my credits I also gathered the following records:- Births of Edwin Alexander Slater and Isabella Mary Slater to Edward Scollery Slater and Clementina Cobban Smith. Marriages of George Robert G. Meil to Frances Irvine Smith and of Robert G. Gilchrist Cusiter to Catherine Reid Mackenzie. These events occurred in Glasgow and Aberdeen but are of Orkney families. I can supply the rest of the details if anyone is interested. I'll now be off-line for a few days. Regards Philip Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com