Hi Vicki, > John immigrated to Australia c1850 and was always referred to as a miner. If he migrated around 1850, that was during the Gold Rush. So I can't help thinking that "miner" may have been his intended occupation in Australia, rather than what he was in Somerset. <snip> > Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Possibly you've already tried this. But do you have birth certificates for *all* his children? The reason I say that is that for my 2g-grandmother Ann BOWLES, only *one* of her children's Australian birth certificates nominates Ann's actual birthplace, which was Compton Dundon, Somerset. Cheers, Lesley (Melbourne, Australia...where the sun is blazing again. Ouch!)