Well....I have done my usual random putting in of a mixture of names into the internet and ended up on a Canadian website listing people who emigrated to New Foundland. I thought this couldn't possibly be anything to do with my lot as they barely seem to have moved a few inches from their home turf but the names involved have got me wondering as there is a VINEY and a SMITH.
Also, having done a cursory look at any connections between New Foundland and Poole I was amazed to discover that connections were remarkably strong and even some of the pillars in one of the Parkstone churches came from NFLD. So it gives more validity to things...though I can't see John marrying a Diana and this John appears to remain in NFLD...I just can't help thinking there might be a link.
Any thoughts about the following:
(from reocities.com)
George SMITH Rev born in 1766 in Poole, Dorset. He dies about 1832 in Poole Dorset
married 1786 to: Deborah?/Marie? Viney about (1768 - 1795). Children were John SMITH, Nathaniel SMITH, Robert SMITH and Thomas W. SMITH Rev
John SMITH born 1787 in Poole Dorset. Marries Mary (no surname b.1795) in Greenspond Newfoundland Canada about 1810...there's a long list of kids.
Now parts of this seem right but their John seems quite different to the one I'm after: different named wife and no daughter called Maragaret....but George Smith did return to the UK at some point as he died here, his wife would have died when the kids were pretty young so I don't know what that would make him do....or perhaps he came back, got remarried and left the original lot out in NFLD....I dunno!
I'm too sleepy now to figure this out but I feel more digging could be good.
Thanks everyone for all your help!
Frodo