MY American cousin has been tracing his English ancestors and I wonder if readers can help with our search.

Our great-grandfather, James Aspinall, came from Blackburn as a very young child and was raised in Southport by two maiden aunts.

From the 1851 census, my cousin found him, aged four, living in Southport with the Johnson family and described as their nephew.

He then found that there was a James Aspinall born in Blackburn in the final quarter of 1846 and, as he was the only child of that name born in England in that year, he must be our great grandfather.

Does anyone know of any records or graves in the Blackburn area which would help us to discover more information?

Why was this little lad uprooted and taken to Southport?

Was he an orphan? Did he leave brothers and sisters behind?

I would be very grateful for any information.

HELENA ASPINALL, El Jireh, Gorsedd, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 8QY.