Hello everyone and especially Gerry Lewis. I have finally received the birth certificate of the above and I am still none the wiser!! I was hoping that he would turn out to be my grandfather whom I know as William Davies THOMAS. His mother Susan DAVIES had been previously married to a Mr. WOOD. She married Thomas THOMAS in January, 1871. William Davies was born in 1868 and is listed in the 1871 as a 3 year old living with his parents, Susan and Thomas THOMAS, and not as a stepson. Thanks to Gerry I found that a William Esau WOOD had been baptized in Marloes in 1868 and I sent for the birth certificate. This certificate states that William Esau WOOD was born on 17 Feb 1868 to Susan WOOD (no maiden name given). No father given. On the face of it it would appear that he was the illegitimate son of another Susan Wood. However, the time frame is correct and as I can't find a marriage for a Susan DAVIES and a Mr. WOOD, I have no idea of when he died (don't know his name!!). In the column "Signature, description and residence of Informant" it states Susan Wood's mother, Village Marloes. So that is no help at all. If the mother's name had been given I would at least have known one way or the other!!! If anyone has any ideas I would be grateful to receive them. Or I guess my grandfather's birth may always remain a mystery!! Gwen Fitch. ------------------------------------- Gwen Fitch, g.fitch@ibl.bm