Hello, The following is quite long but has the makings of a good mystery! So please bear with me... I am trying to find the parents of William EARNSHAW and Ann BINNS who were married at St. Peter's in Huddersfield on 25 Aug 1832. The names of their parents do not appear on the marriage record. William and Ann had the following children (all of whom were born in Huddersfield): 1. Elizabeth (born abt 1831 - married George Chappell in Huddersfield in 1854 and then emigrated to USA - died 25 Dec 1887 in Philadelphia); 2. Mary (born 27 Aug 1832 - married Charles Bocock in Huddersfield in 1851 - died 26 May 1899 in Barton-Upon-Irwell, Lancashire); 3. Joseph Howard (born 1835, emigrated to USA - married first, Mary Ann Mason, also from Huddersfield, and second, Jane Stafford); 4. William (born 1837, emigrated to USA - married Susanna Adams - died 23 Sep 1901 in Chicago); 5. Allen (born 10 Jun 1839 - married Emily Daws in Hackney in 1868 - died 17 May 1896 in Stockport, Cheshire); 6. Horsfall Howard (born 17 Feb 1843 - married Melinda Stott in Huddersfield in 1866 - died on 19 Nov 1898 in Huddersfield) William EARNSHAW Senior died in Huddersfield on 17 Jun 1849, age 39. His death record and Census reports made during his lifetime suggest he was born circa 1809/1810. His wife, Ann EARNSHAW (nee BINNS) died in Huddersfield on 12 Mar 1894, age 84. She too would have been born circa 1809/1810. Both William and Ann were buried in the Paddock All Saints Church cemetery. There is strong circumstantial evidence to suggest that William EARNSHAW may be the son of Joseph EARNSHAW and Mary HORSFALL (the most obvious being the choices of given names for William's children, namely, Mary, Joseph and HORSFALL, all three presumably in honor of his parents). That being said, in order to prove this connection I have been trying to locate William's baptismal record. As mentioned above, the census records for England and William's 1849 death record all indicate that William was likely born circa 1809. Three of Joseph and Mary's children -and William's would-be siblings- (Sarah 1803, Jane 1806, and Benjamin 1813) were all baptized in the High Street New Connexion Methodist Church. My William certainly fits this timeline between Jane and Benjamin. He could also be the "first born son" that is referenced on the baptismal record of Benjamin in 1813, which states that he (Benjamin) is the "*second* son of Joseph Earnshaw and Mary Horsfall." To date, I have been unable to find a baptismal record for the first son. It is quite possible that my William was that child. But where was he baptized? It's quite maddening! Adding to my frustration, I have also been unable to locate the baptismal records for the children of William EARNSHAW and Ann BINNS (those listed above 1 through 6). I believe that William, as well as his six children by Ann BINNS, were all baptized in the Methodist Church. Apart from Mary (#2 listed above), who was baptized in 1847 at age 15 at All Saints Paddock (given her age, it was likely a second baptism), there are no records of the other children having ever been baptized at St. Peter's or All Saints Paddock. In addition, when Joseph Howard EARNSHAW (my 3rd Great Grandfather and #3 listed above) came to the United States in 1852, he married twice, both times in Congregational churches in Massachusetts. Later, Joseph's eldest son, also named William, was married in a Methodist church. In all cases, main-line Anglican churches (known as the Episcopal Church in the United States) were well established and could have been chosen. The fact that they were not and that Congregational and Methodist churches were chosen instead leads me to believe that the Earnshaw history as Non-Conformists must be rooted in their Yorkshire ancestry. The goal then is to find the Non-Conformist English church records that proves this supposition. If anyone has connections to this family or has suggestions as to where I might look for new leads, I would be most grateful. Thank you.