Hi Folks, What I'm about to say/write is open to comment, criticism etc. I'd welcome a debate on it, because we may come to some conclusion (or other) between us! The evidence for the early Tetleys of Heaton is a bit conjectural, because civil records, birth, marriage, death, and census, are non-existant for that time (late 1700s and early 1800s.) What we have available to us, comes from the parish records and bishop's transcripts. (unless anyone has any wills or other evidence?) James Tetley married Mary Waterhouse on 11 Dec 1769 at Calverley. (source IGI) We recorded from the Bishop's Transcripts, that:- "James Tetley of Heaton obtained a licence on 9 Dec 1769 from Bradford to marry at Calverley." I assume that Heaton was in the parish of Bradford at that time, so he would have to apply to the vicar of Bradford for a licence to marry outside his own parish. I contend that it is reasonable to assume that this James Tetley of Heaton and the James who married Mary Waterhouse, are one and the same. James Tetley of Heaton was named as the father of William, christened in 1770 (Bradford Parish records : William son of James Tetley of Heaton baptized on 26th August 1770 page 138) I'm assuming that this is the James who married Mary Waterhouse, but don't have proof of that. Also, a James Tetley was baptised in 1771:- ( Bfd PR: James son of James Tetley of Manningham baptized on 29th December 1771 page 154.) Now, Manningham and Heaton aren't that far apart. It is quite possible that this is the same James (of Heaton), but admittedly there is some doubt. However, he wouldn't be the only Tetley to have been living at Heaton when he married, and subsequently moved away. Bear in mind that, what are now suburbs of Bradford (but would have been villages in the late 1700s), Heaton and Manningham, are actually adjacent to each other. The centres of Heaton and Manningham are less than one mile apart (on my OS map) so, you would only have to travel something like half a mile from the centre of Heaton, to find yourself in Manningham. I think that it is quite possible that these two James' are the same man. Proving that as fact, is another problem! <grin> There is also the baptism of Sarah. Bfd PR: Sarah daughter of James Tetley of Manningham (Clothier) baptized on 31st December 1775 page 53 And a burial from the Bishop's Transcripts, an infant of James Tetley of Manningham in Sep 1773. On the other hand, there is no evidence (that I've found) of James Tetley (of Heaton) and Mary (nee Waterhouse) baptising further children, after William, (which, if such evidence turned up, would shoot down my theory). Note that all baptisms were probably carried out at Bradford Parish Church, in those days. I suspect that there wasn't a church, which was licensed for marriages and baptisms, at Heaton, in the late 1700s. If my memory is correct, chapels (Methodist, Baptist etc) were not licensed for that sort of event, until much later. In any case, the Baptist chapel at Swaine Royd bottom, wasn't erected until 1824. Now, the James Tetley who married Mary Milner.... From the parish records:- James Tetley (Farmer) of Bradford married Mary Milner spinster of Bradford on 31st December 1798 Remember that everyone who lived in the parish of Bradford (even if they lived at Heaton) had to marry at the parish church in those days. And they would probably be recorded as 'both of this parish', so we lose the fact that, actually, one or both of them may have lived at Heaton! The James Tetley, who we know lived at Heaton, was recorded as aged 65 in the 1841 census (living at Bay of Biscay) and 76 when he died, in June 1848 (source Bishop's transcripts). Ok, these dates disagree. Now we know that ages in the 1841 census were rounded up and down. So, it is possible that he was 67/68 in March/April 1841 which was rounded down to 65, and died some 7 and a bit years later, in late June 1848 i.e. at age 76. So, it could be the same man. I hope you're still with me! So, aged 76 in 1848, then he was born in 1771/2. I think I'll stop there, while I think I'm ahead! <grin> Comments welcome, either way! cheers Rich -- Born in Sheffield, but currently in Nottingham UK. Family names:- ASHFORTH, CAVE, CHAMPION, HODGES, HOPE, JACKSON, NICHOLSON, SIMPSON, SLEE, TETLEY, WALKER, WESTOVER, WOOLLEN, WILLIAMS. Home Website: http://freespace.virgin.net/richard.tetley/