Hi Rosaleen

Sorry, i mustn't have ticked the box to be notified when anyone replied to the thread. I only saw your reply today. Thank you for getting in touch.

These do sound like they could be relatives. The problem with the Forde family is we seem to have made a habit of using the same few forenames: Thomas in particular. And i'd say Patrick is pretty common for most Irish families!

If the info Jim has is right then my great-granddad Patrick had a dad called James Forde. Maybe the 60-year old Patrick you mention below was brother to that James though...?

The thing that would really settle it is if we could find some connection to a family called Riley or Rielly (Patrick's wife's surname). I give the two spellings because Riley is what apparently was on her marriage certificate but Rielly (or it might even have been Rielley) is what is on one of two commemorative mugs that my Uncle John has. Can't remember what they commemorate but one is for Patrick Forde and the other for Patrick Rielly (or Rielley). Annie's brother?

The other thing that would help is a birthdate for our Patrick Forde or/and a definite place of birth but the 1901 England and Wales Census just has that he's aged 36 and was born in Ireland. Frustrating!

I'd love to hear about anything else you find out though. You may have more luck, because you do at least know the area (or it sounds like you do).

All the best

Josh