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I have an 1851 census which shows my 3x G Grandfather, John Gibson’s, birthplace as ‘Hoxaybridge, Yorkshire’, but there's no such place. I’ve been wracking my brain and searching through lists of Yorkshire towns that might sound like this, and coming up blank until I suddenly wondered if there might be a place called Hawksbridge, as this seems to me the most likely error a census taker might make. It's not a transcription error - the original says the same, quite clearly. At the time he was living in Kirkwall, Orkney, where he died in 1866.

His birth year seems to be 1776-1778, from the censuses and his death certificate where his age is shown as 88.  Based on this certificate his father’s name was also John Gibson, farmer, but his mother is shown as ‘unknown’.

I know he lived in Peebles where he’s named on ‘heads of families’ lists for 3 years 1834-1836 working as a ‘steward’ on two farms there. His children were born at Manor, Peebles, between 1826 and 1836.

I have no marriage record either, which I know might help. His wife was Ann Kerr, born at Muirkirk, Ayrshire.

So, I discovered a Hawksbridge Lane (apparently the only one in the UK), near the village of Oxenhope, Bradford District, in West Yorkshire, and a Hawksbridge Cottage. I’m thinking this might have been a farm once and maybe this is my ancestor’s birthplace.

I’d appreciate any tips or local knowledge that could help me in my search for some documentary evidence of his birth or anything else, as otherwise I’m at a brick wall. And I’m not in the UK so I’m limited to online material.

I've found a cemetery record showing the burial of my 2x great grandfather Asa Willis at Kirkdale Cemetery on 14th February 1904. I was shocked to discover that his residence is shown as 'Workhouse' at Walton. I'd like to find some more information about his admission etc to the workhouse, but my online search hasn't found anything more. In 1901 he was living with his wife and six children at 20 Clarence Grove, Everton and working as a milk dealer, and I'm wondering how he ended up in a workhouse 3 years later.

Can anyone assist me or give me some ideas about where to look next (online)? I'd be grateful.

I’m trying to follow up on my 3x great grandfather Thomas Wilson, born about 1774 in St Cuthbert’s/Westkirk, Edinburgh. I’ve found his military discharge dated 3rd July 1816, showing him as a private in the 3rd Foot Guards from 1795-1807, the 7th Veteran Battalion from 1807-1808,  the 9th Royal Veteran Battalion from 1808-1815, and the 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion from 1815-1816 when he was discharged. I know he was a Chelsea out-pensioner, and I have the document showing his admission and discharge from Chelsea Hospital and acceptance as a pensioner owing to a ‘bad rupture’, dated 10th September 1807. I can’t find anything like service numbers on these documents that might help me to find out more about him. I’m wondering if an enlistment paper would show this, plus his parents’ names.

I’ve found that the 9th RVB was stationed in Orkney from 1811, and in fact he was married  to Anne Muir (or Moar) in Orkney in 1810, where he then settled. All of their thirteen children were born in Orkney. He is buried in St Magnus churchyard, Kirkwall, Orkney, and I have found his headstone.

I’m wondering how I can find out more about his background, and where I might search to find his parents etc. I have found only oneThomas Wilson baptised in St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh in 1771, but the army documents and his headstone indicate a birthdate around 1774, and censuses of 1841 and 1851 have him born either 1773 or 1776. The parents of this Thomas are William Wilson and Euphan Sommervil. If these are his parents, their names aren’t used as I would expect for his children, although one late son is called William.

I’m unable to search in the UK as I’m in Australia, so I’m limited to online sources.

I’d love some assistance of any kind, if anyone is able and interested.

I've come to a dead end in my search for the parents of my great grandfather, Robert Jones, mariner in the Merchant Service. I know from his marriage certificate (to Elizabeth Anne Willis, 25.04.1894 - West Derby) that his father's name was Robert Jones, carpenter, deceased. His birthplace is given as Bangor on the censuses I've found, but beyond that I'm going round in circles with so many Robert Joneses and no middle name to differentiate them. I'm thinking I need to access birth / baptism information, although as I'm relatively inexperienced at this, I'd love any hints as to where else I might look. I live in Australia so can't visit the area in person. Can anyone help me?
Margaret