« Reply #26 on: Tuesday 21 December 10 23:04 GMT (UK) »
Ooooh - this is exciting stuff! I just checked back through my friends email and the only other piece of random information she'd thrown in was the mention of the surname 'Rabbit' (she had no idea to whom it belonged) and some connection way back with Ireland.
Anyhow, just checked on the John Crosby & wife Mary J you gave me and found a marriage in Dec quarter 1880 in Warrington of a John Crosby to a Mary Jane RABBITT.
Seems like we may well have stumbled on the right family after all.
Thanks very much to both of you

RATCLIFFE, BARLOW, BERESFORD, BLOOR, BYATT, DAKIN, KENT, LEES, MORTON, NORCLIFFE, OAKS, OSBORNE, PARKS, RICHARDSON, ROBINSON, SORTON, WETTON, WARRINGTON, WATTS, WOOD, WOLVERSCROFT (all from the Staffordshire Moorlands) - and specific interest in anyone who at any time lived in or around the village of ALTON