Thanks, Slowhands.

That was the record I was trying to confirm . . . I was hoping the official record would have a bit of info that would help me confirm William's birthdate and that I was on the right track going back to the next generation.

The other catch is that the parish records give me too many options for Elizabeth Griffiths, William's wife. I still haven't been able to discount more than one of the four Elizabeth Griffith's that could have been William's wife.

So I think I'm temporarily on hold in 1805 for the solid details, although I think the leads you found for the prior generation are likely the right folks. (Given the Richard Stephens/Richard Steven Clarke connection.)

I am still waiting for the rest of the certificates I ordered, and hopefully they will provide a few more pieces of the puzzle.

My aunt knew all of this -- but she died when I was 16 and although I remember some of the things she told me I wish I'd committed more of it to paper back then. There's no one from that generation left to ask.

Thanks for all your help.