Dear Graham, > On the 1851C she was still living with the above and this time she > was described as Daughter in Law. She was not a Daughter in Law in > the modern sense! so therefore does this mean that she was adopted? > because I could not find any records of her parents. Many people have explained that "daughter in law" here means "step daughter"; that is, Elizabeth is Sophia's daughter. Someone asked what birthplace is given in the 1851 census - it is Abingdon. The marriage of Gabriel to Sophia Wickson has also been found by a number of people. > Elizabeth WICKSON b 30 August 1832 Abingdon Berkshire parents > Elizabeth and Joseph WICKSON.(Non Conformist records). This statement seems problematic - we have good reason to suppose that Elizabeth's actual mother was called Sophia. And what do you mean by "Non Conformist records"? There were 2 distinct, long-standing, non-conformist churches in Abingdon - one Baptist and one Independent. Do you know from which one you found this apparent record of Elizabeth's birth? Now Sophia WICKSON/BILLING, according to the 1851 census, was born in Standlake, Oxfordshire. And it so happens that there is a baptism in Standlake which is relevant: 5 March 1834 Elizabeth daughter of Joseph (a labourer) and Sophia. This can be found in the Oxfordshire FHS parish register transcript on CD. And, interestingly, this couple have another child baptised in Standlake: On 22 March 1835, Sophia daughter of Joseph (a cabinet maker) and Sophia, of Abingdon. This latter entry seems to matches the father's name and occupation from Elizabeth's marriage(as found by Paul Irving), and the birthplace from the 1851 census. Sophia, infant daughter of Joseph and Sophia Wickson of Abingdon was buried on 14 November 1835 at Standlake, by the way. And it looks as if this is her father's burial, also at Standlake: 27 January 1835, Joseph, age 25, of Abingdon. So now we have a plausible baptism for Elizabeth, the burial of her father, the remarriage of her mother, her subsequently living with her mother and stepfather in Great Haseley in 1841 and 1851, and her marriage, with the right father's name and occupation. Everything fits together, except your information from "Non Conformist records". You need to check that. Best wishes Paul -- Paul Betteridge, Leafield, Oxfordshire pbetteridge@pobox.com