Hi Larry & Coreen, I had no idea the Leembruggen family had six pages in the records below. Thanks for the info. Beth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry & Coreen Andresen" <larry@qldnet.com.au> To: <srilanka@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 1:26 PM Subject: [SRILANKA] The Hague research > Another source of records of Dutch / British era families found in the > Genealogy library at The Hague were the books entitled > GESLACHT-EN WAPENKUNDE > The title of the chapters are GENEALOGISCHE EN HERALDICSHE > AANTEEKENINGEN. > AANGAANDE HOLLANDISCHE > FAMILIEN TE CEYLON > Door Mr F.H.DE VOS > > The first entry is over six pages on the LEEMBRUGGEN family. > It is all in dutch, and no doubt a lot is in the DBU, as F. H. De Vos > wrote for them too, but there seems to be a description of the Family > coat of Arms at the end of the genealogy data of a number of the larger > entries. > > Names shown are > Roosmale-Cocq, Adriaansz, Alsdorp, Van Buren, Bartels, Van Hek, > Doebratsz, Gerlach, Ebert > Landsberger, Ohlmus, Recourt de la Chaume, Scharf, Visser, Estrop, > Brengman, Van Ranzow, Gratiaen > De Breard, Sluysken, Everhardi, Van der Wall, Piachaud, Roerbach, > Kessels, Fock, Schuttrup, Augier > Van de Smajt, Fabritius, Fybrandsz, Steenkelder, Buitenmuller, > Halwachs, De Salve, Maire, Kerkenberg > Adamsz, Alebos, Aubert, Agricola, Aartsz, Aldertsz, Aswelt, > Amour, Arendsz, Ardiaansz, Emans > Meurling, Engelbregt, Van Zitter, Sela, Aldons, De Kretzer, > Franchimont, Bax, Krayenhoff, Van Dielen > Van Rhee, Schrader > > Two families that we did lookups on, in the christenings appear. > Staats > Elias Wilhelmus Staats en Anna Gertuida Rumdoorf waren ouders van: > 1. Gertruida Elizabeth, geb te Colombo 1 juli 1807 > 2. Henrietta Magdalena, geb te Colombo 1 Nov 1809 > 3. Jacobus Wilhelmus, geb te Colombo 3 Mei 1812 > 4. Sara Henrietta, geb, te Colombo 9 Oct 1814 > > Weerman > Johan Godfried Weerman en Amarantia Elizabeth Staats waren ouders van: > 1. Johanna Elizabeth, geb. 17 Febr. 1810 > 2.Johanna Wilhelmina, geb. 25 Sept 1812 > > We are willing to share the information we have,and can scan the larger > entries as an attachment, to save transcription errors. > Larry & Coreen Andresen (nee Anderson) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

unsubscribe -----Original Message----- From: srilanka-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:srilanka-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Larry & Coreen Andresen Sent: 04 January 2007 12:26 To: srilanka@rootsweb.com Subject: [SRILANKA] The Hague research Another source of records of Dutch / British era families found in the Genealogy library at The Hague were the books entitled GESLACHT-EN WAPENKUNDE The title of the chapters are GENEALOGISCHE EN HERALDICSHE AANTEEKENINGEN. AANGAANDE HOLLANDISCHE FAMILIEN TE CEYLON Door Mr F.H.DE VOS The first entry is over six pages on the LEEMBRUGGEN family. It is all in dutch, and no doubt a lot is in the DBU, as F. H. De Vos wrote for them too, but there seems to be a description of the Family coat of Arms at the end of the genealogy data of a number of the larger entries. Names shown are Roosmale-Cocq, Adriaansz, Alsdorp, Van Buren, Bartels, Van Hek, Doebratsz, Gerlach, Ebert Landsberger, Ohlmus, Recourt de la Chaume, Scharf, Visser, Estrop, Brengman, Van Ranzow, Gratiaen De Breard, Sluysken, Everhardi, Van der Wall, Piachaud, Roerbach, Kessels, Fock, Schuttrup, Augier Van de Smajt, Fabritius, Fybrandsz, Steenkelder, Buitenmuller, Halwachs, De Salve, Maire, Kerkenberg Adamsz, Alebos, Aubert, Agricola, Aartsz, Aldertsz, Aswelt, Amour, Arendsz, Ardiaansz, Emans Meurling, Engelbregt, Van Zitter, Sela, Aldons, De Kretzer, Franchimont, Bax, Krayenhoff, Van Dielen Van Rhee, Schrader Two families that we did lookups on, in the christenings appear. Staats Elias Wilhelmus Staats en Anna Gertuida Rumdoorf waren ouders van: 1. Gertruida Elizabeth, geb te Colombo 1 juli 1807 2. Henrietta Magdalena, geb te Colombo 1 Nov 1809 3. Jacobus Wilhelmus, geb te Colombo 3 Mei 1812 4. Sara Henrietta, geb, te Colombo 9 Oct 1814 Weerman Johan Godfried Weerman en Amarantia Elizabeth Staats waren ouders van: 1. Johanna Elizabeth, geb. 17 Febr. 1810 2.Johanna Wilhelmina, geb. 25 Sept 1812 We are willing to share the information we have,and can scan the larger entries as an attachment, to save transcription errors. Larry & Coreen Andresen (nee Anderson) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The contents of this email and any attachments are sent for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete it from your system. If you are not the addressee, any review, retransmission, disclosure, copying or other use of this email and any attachments is prohibited. Statements and opinions expressed in this email may not represent those of the company and any representations or commitments in this email are subject to contract. ntl Group Limited Telewest Limited Please note that following completion of the merger of ntl and Telewest, we are migrating our email addresses to a standard company wide address of "@ntl.com". Accordingly, you may see that the sender's email address has changed. If you are sending to a Telewest email address your email will be directed to the intended recipient. ==============================================================================

Sam, No Waits shown. Coreen & Larry Andresen

My name is Joy Heynsbergh and I am looking for any Heynsbergh's

David, Weerman Robertina Engelina Weerman born 4 April 1815, christened April 23 1815 Parents. Robert Weerman and Johanna Wilhelmina Eske. God parents. Jacob Lourenz van Geysil and Anna Maria Bernhard, Widow Weerman No entries Staats or Bridgnell Coreen&Larry Andresen

The following list completes the 14 pages of christenings we copied from the Genealogy library, in The Hague. We have put the Father/Mother surname to help with lookups. Most entries have DOB plus Christening date. All have God parents. Where the two parents share the same surname we dont have the means to check that this is correct; and not just a cleric's clerical entry for convenience!! 1815 1 Weerman/Eske 1 Ebert/Estrop 1 Gomes/Gomes 1 Drieberg/Wolff 1 Barber/Turing 1 Ohlmus/Hoffman 1816 1 De Zilva/Janstz 1 Neydorf/Willemsz 1 Kriekenbeek/even du Hill 1 Wille/Pieters 1 Perera/Perera 1 Ebert/Ebert 1 Loos/Fares 1 Koch/Brohier 1818 1 Carron/Nonies 1 Elders/Nonies 1 Schubert/Riphagen 1 Van Beek/Van Beek 1 Ohlmus Hoffman 1823 1 Van Dort/Thuring 1 De Kretzer/Johanna .......thysz 1 Gratiaen/Reckerman 1 Camp/Reimers 1 Drieberg/Flock 1 De Zilva/De Zilva The above 1823 christenings were 1822 births 1 Van Dort/Ke...... 1839 1 Fernando/Paulusz 1 Huybertz/Kern 1 Van Twest/Joseph 1 Ferdinands/Van Cuylenberg 1840 1 Toussaint/Toussaint 1 Piachaud/Piachaud 1 Mottau/Vander Fruilen 1 Van Hagt/Van Hagt 1 Alvis/Raffel 1 De Boer/Kriekenbeek 1 Mack/Barber 1 Bartholomuesz/Bartholomuesz 1 Morris/Christoffelsz 1 Vander Straaten/Pompeus Please note that the above names are only the 14 pages relating to Anderson/Toussaint descendants and ancestors, that we copied . There are about 20 microfiche in good to very poor condition in the collection.The Genealogy Library is on the 1st floor on the far right of the Dutch Archive Building, behind the main rail station at The Hague. In fact you have to walk along the last platform to get into the court yard where the building is. Most staff in the Archives and the Genealogy Society speak English and will help with translation. All care has been taken with transcribing but the photocopies are very poor in most sheet, so any correction to names is most welcome. Larry & Coreen Andresen. Babinda. Qld. Australia.

Hi Coreen&Larry, Many thanks for the very prompt reply. Best regards, David K Bridgnell -----Original Message----- From: srilanka-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:srilanka-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Larry & Coreen Andresen Sent: 02 January 2007 11:06 To: srilanka@rootsweb.com Subject: [SRILANKA] The Hague lookups David, Weerman Robertina Engelina Weerman born 4 April 1815, christened April 23 1815 Parents. Robert Weerman and Johanna Wilhelmina Eske. God parents. Jacob Lourenz van Geysil and Anna Maria Bernhard, Widow Weerman No entries Staats or Bridgnell Coreen&Larry Andresen ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.2/613 - Release Date: 01/01/2007 14:50 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.2/613 - Release Date: 01/01/2007 14:50

Hi Larry & Coreen, Happy New Year from north Cornwall. I would be most grateful for any information on the following surnames: WEERMAN, STAATS & BRIDGNELL. My info: Johan Godfried WEERMAN Bap 1778, Wolvendaal Married:1808 Ammorencia Elisabeth STAATS Bap 1778, Wolvendaal Many thanks in advance. David K Bridgnell -----Original Message----- From: srilanka-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:srilanka-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Larry & Coreen Andresen Sent: 01 January 2007 06:28 To: srilanka@rootsweb.com Subject: [SRILANKA] Layard lookup -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.2/613 - Release Date: 01/01/2007 14:50

Thank you for your offer of look-ups. By any chance are there any entries for Surname: Wait? I had two ancestors who were coffee planters, but may be later than 1840. Thank you. Sam Wait --

Dear Christine I have a distant cousin who married an Orr his line goes back to Malcolm Orr of Ceylon Write back to me please .. We can share notes ? my E-mail Address(es): ninavandort@chello.at can you send me your direct add please ? bye nina ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christine Miller" <chrismiller@forestcats.freeserve.co.uk> To: <srilanka@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 3:23 PM Subject: Re: [SRILANKA] British Ceylon christening records in The Hague > Hello Coreen & Larry, > > I would be very grateful if you could see if there is anyone called ORR in > these records - particularly Andrew ORR. > > > Best wishes, > Christine. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi I'd be interested to hear if you come across the name KADREWELL or similar. I am trying to trace my G G Grandfather. Any help would be appreciated. Regards Alison ---- Original message ---- >Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 11:41:00 +1000 >From: Larry & Coreen Andresen <larry@qldnet.com.au> >Subject: [SRILANKA] de Silva >To: srilanka@rootsweb.com > >Gaye >Dorothea Elisabeth, parents, Jacobus de Silva and Elisabeth Jansz. born >29 Nov 1814, christened 11 Dec 1814. >God parents Justines {Jsaaky} and Christina Jansz > >There is another entry 1816 >Adrianus Martinus, parents, Johannes de silva and Briane Janstz. born 26 >th Feb 1816, christened 7 April 1816. >God parents Gerard Kriekenbeek and Johanna Juliana Henrietta de Lannoy > >and 1823 >Pieter Gerhardus ,parents, Henrikus Gerhardus De Silva and Ana Elisabeth >De Silva. born 28 Dec 1822. christened @ March 18 1823.God parents >Pieter Cornelius De Silva, Gerrit Jurgens De Silva, Johanna Carol{ine} >De Silva >This entry has the following additional information >Geb op Ruwanwelle 28 December 1822. > >Coreen & Larry, in Babinda,Qld. Australia > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Jane, no Layard but there is a very large Layard family description in J P Lewis "Tombstones and Monuments in Ceylon" page 25. Sir Charles Peter Layard died July 17 1893, buried St Peters Church, Fort, Colombo. Do you have access to this book ? Coreen and Larry Andresen

Dear Larry and Coreen, I was very interested when I saw your message on the Sri Lanka Roots web website as my G.G.Gd-father French Gray married a Dutch Lady (Ursula Mooyaart) there in 1807 and most of his descendants were born there or in Asia until after WWII. Their children Basil (1809), Humphrey (1811), French (My G.Gd-father_1813), Eliza (1815), Sarah (1816) and Caroline (1817) were all born during the period you mention. Although I have dates for them, they are from various sources and there are a few contradictions and I'm not sure whether they are actually dates of birth or Baptism's, so would appreciate any information you may be able to kindly provide. Basil never married. Humphrey (who married Louisa Scarman) had 4 x daughters, Christine (1840), Louisa (?), Eliza (1842) and Eleanor (1844) but I think that they were all born in India. French (2nd) married Susan J Warburton and they had 10 children French W (1841), William (1843-44), William C (1844), Basil (1845), Humphrey (1846), Jane F* (1850), Susan F* (1850), Richard (1851), Cosby W (1853) and James P (My Gd-father_1855). Unfortunately these births are outside the dates you quote, but perhaps somebody else might be kind enough to provide any additional information. * Jane and Susan were twins. Eliza married Major Samuel A Rehe and they had Samuel B E (1834), Eliza A (1834) and Adolphus H J (1838) _ I believe Samuel was born in India. Sarah married Robert Russell MD (1 Feb 1826) and they had four boys Robert W, Thomas O, Frederic C, and George B. But I have no dates for these. Caroline married Henry Smith (A serving Officer on 10th Jan 1833) they had a son Henry B (1835) Any additional information you may be able to provide will be very much appreciated, Many Thanks Richard and Colleen Gray Swansea, S Wales, UK. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry & Coreen Andresen" <larry@qldnet.com.au> To: <srilanka@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 12:32 AM Subject: [SRILANKA] British Ceylon christening records in The Hague >A number of microfiche with christenings from 1804 to 1840 are located > in the Dutch Genealogy Research library room. > Finding these British era records in Holland, was the jewel in the crown > of a round the world research trip that took in > 1. LDS records and Library in Salt Lake City. > 2. The Dutch Archives and Genealogy library in The Hague. > 3. The India Office Records, British Library, Newspaper Library, > National Archives, and the Society of Genealogists library in England > 4. St Stephen's Church, Negombo, and numerous other derelict churches > and desecrated cemeteries on the west coast of > Sri Lanka. > The English/Dutch records showed 2 entries for Anderson, which is our > primary research target. > One record is directly connected to our family... Captain James Thomas > Anderson and Adriana Gertruijda Toussaint. > The record is in Dutch, but the following information is clearly > decipherable. > the child James Robbert ) born 1 month > son of James Thomas Anderson and Adriana Gertruijda Toussaint > Godparents John Frederick Toussaint , Bernard Hendrik Toussaint, > Elisabeth Robertino vander Sprinkel and .........Willemsz > Jaffanapatnam Sun 22nd March 1810 > Minister signature. J B Palm > There was a report of 4 daughters and 2 sons in the Anderson family in > Lewis's book, but DBU records only ever showed 1 son. > > The second Anderson record is for Sophia, daughter of Jame and Susanna > Anderson born 2nd Nov 1806. > God parents John Prior and Mary Edwards Minister signature ... > Cadenski. Trincomale..10 Nov 1806 > > The records seem to be in a church circuit book which has entries for > Jaffna and Trincomale only > 1806 records > 2 Meeawald > 1 Trip > 1 Anderson > 1807 > 1 Gilbert > 1810 > 1 Anderson > 1814 > 1 von Conrady > 1 Wiltig > 1de Silva > 1 Stomp > 1 van den Driesen > 1 Aldons > We are willing to do lookups and share information with fellow > researchers, and will post further names to the list each week. > Larry & Coreen Andresen (nee Anderson) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.29/607 - Release Date: 28/12/2006 > >

Hello Coreen & Larry, I would be very grateful if you could see if there is anyone called ORR in these records - particularly Andrew ORR. Best wishes, Christine.

Thanks Larry and Colleen.. I can't see any connection at the moment...De Silva is a very popular name..thanks for all the work. I imagined you must have been in Queensland...when I saw your ISP. I'd be interested in hearing how you got to Queensland... Cheers Gay ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry & Coreen Andresen" <larry@qldnet.com.au> To: <srilanka@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 11:41 AM Subject: [SRILANKA] de Silva > Gaye > Dorothea Elisabeth, parents, Jacobus de Silva and Elisabeth Jansz. born > 29 Nov 1814, christened 11 Dec 1814. > God parents Justines {Jsaaky} and Christina Jansz > > There is another entry 1816 > Adrianus Martinus, parents, Johannes de silva and Briane Janstz. born 26 > th Feb 1816, christened 7 April 1816. > God parents Gerard Kriekenbeek and Johanna Juliana Henrietta de Lannoy > > and 1823 > Pieter Gerhardus ,parents, Henrikus Gerhardus De Silva and Ana Elisabeth > De Silva. born 28 Dec 1822. christened @ March 18 1823.God parents > Pieter Cornelius De Silva, Gerrit Jurgens De Silva, Johanna Carol{ine} > De Silva > This entry has the following additional information > Geb op Ruwanwelle 28 December 1822. > > Coreen & Larry, in Babinda,Qld. Australia > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

Gaye Dorothea Elisabeth, parents, Jacobus de Silva and Elisabeth Jansz. born 29 Nov 1814, christened 11 Dec 1814. God parents Justines {Jsaaky} and Christina Jansz There is another entry 1816 Adrianus Martinus, parents, Johannes de silva and Briane Janstz. born 26 th Feb 1816, christened 7 April 1816. God parents Gerard Kriekenbeek and Johanna Juliana Henrietta de Lannoy and 1823 Pieter Gerhardus ,parents, Henrikus Gerhardus De Silva and Ana Elisabeth De Silva. born 28 Dec 1822. christened @ March 18 1823.God parents Pieter Cornelius De Silva, Gerrit Jurgens De Silva, Johanna Carol{ine} De Silva This entry has the following additional information Geb op Ruwanwelle 28 December 1822. Coreen & Larry, in Babinda,Qld. Australia

Thanks for your wonderful offer of Lookups.. In my family, I have a Clara Theresa Emeila de Silva who was most probably born 1855 to 1870. parents Nicholas de Silva and Mary Catherine Fernando. would be glad if I could get a date of birth/baptism Happy New Year.. Gay > The records seem to be in a church circuit book which has entries for > Jaffna and Trincomale only > 1806 records > 2 Meeawald > 1 Trip > 1 Anderson > 1807 > 1 Gilbert > 1810 > 1 Anderson > 1814 > 1 von Conrady > 1 Wiltig > 1de Silva > 1 Stomp > 1 van den Driesen > 1 Aldons > We are willing to do lookups and share information with fellow > researchers, and will post further names to the list each week. > Larry & Coreen Andresen (nee Anderson) >

A number of microfiche with christenings from 1804 to 1840 are located in the Dutch Genealogy Research library room. Finding these British era records in Holland, was the jewel in the crown of a round the world research trip that took in 1. LDS records and Library in Salt Lake City. 2. The Dutch Archives and Genealogy library in The Hague. 3. The India Office Records, British Library, Newspaper Library, National Archives, and the Society of Genealogists library in England 4. St Stephen's Church, Negombo, and numerous other derelict churches and desecrated cemeteries on the west coast of Sri Lanka. The English/Dutch records showed 2 entries for Anderson, which is our primary research target. One record is directly connected to our family... Captain James Thomas Anderson and Adriana Gertruijda Toussaint. The record is in Dutch, but the following information is clearly decipherable. the child James Robbert ) born 1 month son of James Thomas Anderson and Adriana Gertruijda Toussaint Godparents John Frederick Toussaint , Bernard Hendrik Toussaint, Elisabeth Robertino vander Sprinkel and .........Willemsz Jaffanapatnam Sun 22nd March 1810 Minister signature. J B Palm There was a report of 4 daughters and 2 sons in the Anderson family in Lewis's book, but DBU records only ever showed 1 son. The second Anderson record is for Sophia, daughter of Jame and Susanna Anderson born 2nd Nov 1806. God parents John Prior and Mary Edwards Minister signature ... Cadenski. Trincomale..10 Nov 1806 The records seem to be in a church circuit book which has entries for Jaffna and Trincomale only 1806 records 2 Meeawald 1 Trip 1 Anderson 1807 1 Gilbert 1810 1 Anderson 1814 1 von Conrady 1 Wiltig 1de Silva 1 Stomp 1 van den Driesen 1 Aldons We are willing to do lookups and share information with fellow researchers, and will post further names to the list each week. Larry & Coreen Andresen (nee Anderson)

Yes, thank you I have the Lewis info, plus when relative had been to Sri Lanka in the past, before the climate became difficult for tourists, they kindly took pictures of the actual grave markers for me..........I do not have any prove of birth/Christening for any of my Layard or Dowbiggin ancestors for Ceylon days however. Thank you for your kind look up Happy New Year and all the best Jane ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry & Coreen Andresen" <larry@qldnet.com.au> To: <srilanka@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 1:27 AM Subject: [SRILANKA] Layard lookup > Jane, > no Layard but there is a very large Layard family description in J P > Lewis "Tombstones and Monuments in Ceylon" page 25. > Sir Charles Peter Layard died July 17 1893, buried St Peters Church, > Fort, Colombo. Do you have access to this book ? > Coreen and Larry Andresen > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SRILANKA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Dear Larry and Coreen, I was very interested to see that you have been able to do some look-ups. I would be so grateful if you could shed some light for me. I have never had much luck in finding records pertaining to my great-grandmother Emily Elizabeth de Silva (alias Hudson). She would have been born in about 1860 - she had her first children (twins) in 1882. According to family lore, she is supposed to have been the illegitimate daughter of an English planter/businessman named Thomas Hudson and "a local woman" - whether burgher or Sinhalese I have no idea. On one birth cert (the twins')she is given as de Silva; on my grandmother's death cert she is given as Hudson; the legend is that she was left in the care of the de Silvas (with her sister Mary Jane) when Thomas went back to England... but I'm not sure Thomas did go back to England... I don't know if or where or when she was baptised, who her mother was, when she died - I think she died quite young. I know who she married (a soldier named Alfred Ernest Whatmore, who left the army, worked on the railways and died in Colombo in the 30s.) Oh, and at the time she had her twins, they seem to have been living in Cinnamon Gardens... can anybody explain how the family of a railway guard lived in what I gather is and has always been an expensive part of Colombo? I am pretty sure I have tracked down the right Thomas - he seems to have been born in London - but his daughters defy me. Any help appreciated. By the way, can anyone tell me if de Silva is more common as a Burgher name or as a surname used by Sinhalese? Many thanks, Becca Kenneison England.