Hi all, I'd just like to thank you all for your help again, and let you know what I found in case anyone else runs across this family in future! I confirmed James as being the one listed as James GOLAND in the 1851 census (sent for his birth certificate which listed his mother as Eleanor GOLDING, father blank) in Udimore - the family consisting of: James GOLAND head 50 Ruth do Wife 50 Eleanor do Daugh 28 (James' mother) Charles do Son 17 John do Son 12 Stephen do Son 7 James do Grandson 2 I had tried to follow him up in the 1861 census, without success, so looked to Eleanor, and found a marriage for her in 1851 to Edmund BALLARD. I then found the family, including James all under the BALLARD name (with further children) in the 1861 census in Brede, and in 1871 without James. I have not yet located James in the 1871 census. James GOLDING is then recorded as joining the army (Royal Horse Artillery) in 1873 and being discharged in 1875 as not fit for further duty. In 1878 he marries Ruth SNOOK in Eastbourne, Sussex, and is listed with her and a number of children in the 1881 and 1891 census. I believe he died in 1897 in Eastbourne. Our direct line is through his son Stephen, my husband's grandfather. Many thanks once again, Louise On 30 December 2013 21:44, park louise <medionemeton@blueyonder.co.uk>wrote: > Hi all, > > New to the list and looking for some help piecing together my husband's > family. > > I have Stephen GOLDING b 7 Oct 1891 Eastbourne, d 1961 Gilling West, > Richmond, N Yorks. > His father was James GOLDING b Q1 1849 Rye, Udimore, Sussex, ? d Q4 1897 > Eastbourne, Sussex, m Q4 1878 Eastbourne, Sussex to Ruth SNOOK b 1852 > Langport, South Somerset. > > I am trying to trace James' parents. > > I suspect that James' father is Robert GOLDING b 1821 or 1822 in Udimore, > Sussex, who is recorded in the 1851 census in Hastings, Sussex as a groom > at Bohemia St. However, there is no sign anywhere in the census (I have > searched the whole census, not just locally) of James or of any wife to > Robert. > > Anyone have any suggestions? I have even tried searching for them in the > Scottish census as there are family stories of links to Scotland. This is > my first time tackling the English system as almost all my own family are > Scottish. > > TIA > Louise > (Researching Golding, Goldsbrough, Bell, Stockdale) > > > >