On the subject of George Wray, Jim, I came across a possible example of his sense of humour. He told PG that early in his life, he went to sea as a cook with a Mr Cross of Appleby. That village is a few miles north-east of Scunthorpe. The nearest water is the River Ancholme, which used to carry barge traffic, but not sea-going ships (perhaps humber keels I suppose). The only Mr Cross I can find in Directories and census returns is long-established vicar! Was George pulling PG's leg? I also came across a reference to a George Wray selling his wife, but the date is just a bit too early.