This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/EgC.2ACE/10175.1 Message Board Post: Hi Kenneth, If John was born in 1786 the bad news is that the birth records for Half Morton started in 1787! I take it that you have seen the 1851 Census listing the children still living at Oakwoodhill. John's wife Ann Ward was born in Graitney (or Gretna as it is now called) and all of the children were christened there despite being born in Half Morton. I look after the Dumfries page for Roots.com so if I can be of any help let me know. Regards, Graeme Edinburgh