Where do I start?

[sillgen]

Hi
You may be clutching at straws here as the IGI is not full coverage by any means so your George could be born in a parish that is not on it.  Does the 1851 census just give Scotland as place of birth?  If he was Scottish he may well have followed their naming pattern for his children so that might give you some clues.
Andrea

[dobbin]

Hi Andrea

Thanks.

 I know the IGI does not have full coverage and on each census it does just give his birth as Scotland. I realise it is a mammoth task that I have in hand.

the only clue that I have with names is that the male side seemed to follow through, John, George, John, George  etc

Thanks for your help.

[AllyS]

Hi,
I'd looked for George on Scotland's People a while ago, the best match I came up with was the one for the baptism in May 1772 to John Houden and Janet Ladlie, the birth date is given as May 2nd. Interestingly one of the witnesses is a William Houden and William is the name of one of George's sons later on in Liverpool. Also when George marries Mary Petty in Liverpool in 1798 he is down as Houden, and again in 1814 when he marries Ann Maria Bennett,  although some of his children are recorded as Howden others are Houden. I don't feel that I have proved the connection enough to actually put John and Janet onto my family tree, and I can't see how I ever will prove it but I am willing to pencil them in with question marks. Hope this is of some help.

[dobbin]

Hi Allys
Thanks. I have sent you a short pm.