Thanks for the response Selby, good to chat with you. I ask because I am trying to trace the crossing of the Atlantic to North America by my Luffman ancestors; so far without success. I have traced my branch of the Luffman family to an origin in the 1790's when my 2Xgreat grandfather joined the Somerset Fencible Militia in Bath Somerset in 1794. He subsequently left the unit (which was a voluntary though official unit in Alford, and married there Christmas Day 1797; so it is true to say that every Luffman from Lincolnshire is related to him, and to myself, though there are also other Luffman groups who have come into the county later, and who may not be related. I have some considerable reason to believe that his family originated in Dorset, just over the county boundary from Somerset; but likely illegitimacy makes this difficult to establish. Dorset as you are not doubt aware being particularly relevant to the settlement of Newfoundland mainly from South West England. Many of the settlers left England through the port of Poole. Research there is not difficult now as I live some 500 yards outside the town, and can visit the Records Office easily. The Dorset archive in Dorchester is not difficult either.
You will soon get used to the working of this site, in the first instance when you have made a total of 3 postings you will be able to send personal messages (PMs) to other users. These are entirely private between those involved. The site stops people displaying their details and email for security reasons.
I hope we can work together to our mutual advantage; usually by personal message as above.
Roger
