Joy - One reason you didn't find anything in the IGI is that the local legal records weren't used past 1875. If there are other entries, they are Patron Submissions more recently added and not directly from primary sources [Civil Registration books]. The basic IGI covers 1855 through 1875 events in Scotland entered from Registration books, which means occasionally handwriting is illegible or the quality of the books is less than desired [seriously faded ink]. Another reason is he is listed in the INDEXes of the General Register Office as Samuel NURQUOY. Scotlandpeople will only search for the exact surname you give them - you can use Wild Cards [*], but there are specific rules. Now to the other problems, Margaret RENTON may have been listed under her mother's surname.....the Marriage Registration shows James RENTON as the 'Reputed Father' so I'd look for Margaret ALLAN born about 1853-4. Here is the data from the marriage document in 1876 : Kirkwall Marriages, 1876- June 1, Wellington St, Kirkwall, Established Church of Scotland ceremony. Samuel NURQUOY, Mason's apprentice, Bachelor, 23y residing Burray. Son of Edward NURQUOY, Farmer and Mary NURQUOY ms ANDERSON. Margaret RENTON, Spinster, 22y residing Wellington St, Kirkwall. Daughter of James RENTON, Printer's apprentice [reputed father] and Janet ALLAN. Signed William SPARK, Minister of Kirkwall & St Ola. Witnesses were William SHAW and Elizabeth BROCH. Registered June 2 at Kirkwall. There were only 2 other Marriages in any Orkney parish [from 1855 to 1929] involving a RENTON lass. In 1880, Jane W. RENTON married David Balfour McKENZIE in Stromness, entry #11. In 1871, Ann RENTON married John ALLAN in Kirkwall & St Ola, entry #7. Meg Greenwood / Oklahoma USA who has way too much printed-out from ScotlandsPeople in a huge file drawer, plus more films that you can shake a stick at. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: [email protected] Subject: [Orkney] Margaret Renton From: "Joy Moloney" <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 18:55:11 -0700 On the Norquay page Samuel Norquay m Margaret Renton circa 1876. I can find no trace of a marriage in GROS or IGI. Also, I cannot find a birth for Margaret Renton in the Orkney OPR. Is anyone able to shed some light on this? Joy - from the land down under