Hello Peter thanks for your reply, I see from other messages that you obviously have alot of knowledge re Cheshire .Briefly as poss, husbands gg.gran never had birth cert and there was mystery re birth.She signed declaration for pension purposes in 1936 giving info she had.I found her on 1881 census and found she was a year younger than she had always thought and eventually found birth cert, and with that mothers name and poss clue to father. 1881 census Esther Bramhall living with Elizabeth Sutton in Hyde Cheshire. aged 7 months and was in fact born sept 1880 to Eliza Bramwell and given middle name Clayton. She married JohnLea in 1899 and appears on 1901 census as Hester Lea, but we know it is her.Her family still live in Stockport and she lived all her life in Stockport.In her declaration she says she was brought up by Elizabeth Mace/Edith Mace until her marriage. But having searched high and low on 1891 census I have never been able to find her. I faxed the library last year and they confirmed that they did hold the records.I guess if all else fails, one day I'll get to Stockport just to satisfy my curiosity!! Thanks alot Ronnie