I am also looking at tracing a nottingham lace worker who was born in Calais c1844. He is John West his mother went to Calais between 1840 - 1842 and returned to Nottingham 1848-1852. Cant trace father.She returned with 5 children! she must have done reasonably well as she opened a drapers shop in Nottingham. Have you managed to find a data base that can help? Or will this be a "Dead End" on my tree as well. John West was my great Grandfather so not very far back really.