Hi Chris, wondered how long it would take for you to express some interest.

This is one of my "brick walls" and I could write reams on the individual in question - Oliver Stanlake (sometimes Stenlake, Stanlik etc) Balkwell, (sometimes Barkwell-or Balkwill the further back one goes).

The census years consistently show him as being born 1834 at Cookbury. However despite researching the Cookbury Registers and those of surrounding Parishes, I have never managed to find a baptism for him.

His marriage to a Mary Ann Sluggett in 1859 shows his father as being "Richard Balkwill". However problem is which Richard?

In 1841, Oliver first shows in the household of Richard Barkwell with, presumably, wife Elizabeth, and children Richard (15), Mary (10), Oliver himself (7) and finally Isaac (5). Now, I have found that a Richard Balkwill married an Elizabeth (Stanlick)in 1833 at East Stonebouse, but that does not give any indication of his father. Another issue is that being married in 1833, means the children Richard and Mary were born earlier - in circa 1827 and 1830. There is another Richard Balkwill who married a Mary Stanlake in 1825, and I have also found in Holsworthy non-conformist Registers baptisms of a Richard and a Mary to parents of Richard & Mary Balkwill. I have also found that there were daughters, Mary & Elizabeth, of an Oliver Stanlake, most likely to be the wifves of the 2 Richards. However, information found on Roots Web indicated that Richard and Mary emigrated to Canada in 1834/35.

So, whilst believing that Richard and Mary (children in the 1841 census with Richard & Elizabeth) seemed more likely not to be children of Richard & Elizabeth why were they with them?. The more I have researched, the more I have become convinced that when Richard & Mary emigrated to Canada, they left their two children, Richard & Mary (who incidentally was blind) in the care of their aunt (Elizabeth's sister) and new husband (Richard) probably because it was felt that the voyage was going to be too hazardous, certainly for (blind) Mary, but with Richard wanting to stay with his sister, or it being that he was better placed to help Elizabeth look after Mary.

My uncertainty is was Oliver another child of Richard & Mary or the first child of Richard & Elizabeth? and I hoped if I could find his baptism, it might resolve the question. Hence my question about another Cookbury.

David