I WAS having a break from studying family history on Thursday, when I spotted the plea for information from Marjorie Harrison relating to an Appleton Roebuck schoolmaster, who began teaching in 1889 (History Appeal, Readers' Letters, August 24).

I thought maybe the 1881 census would throw up some clues, but none of the William Claytons on the Yorkshire index seemed to fit this chap.

Next, I took pot luck and searched the Lincolnshire 1881 census and I found a William Clayton, aged 18, a pupil teacher living at 54 Upgate, Louth.

He had an older brother, Thomas, aged 21, and both were born in Louth (and both unmarried).

However, both men lived with their stepfather, John William Bentley, and his wife, Sarah, aged 40.

The stepfather was a sergeant in the Royal Artillery.

His own birthplace is given as Hull.

Maybe the teacher's own father had died as a soldier, and may be on war office records.

One last clue was a Charles and Sarah Clayton in their 50s, living further down the road at number 110 Upgate, Charles's occupation being given as a tailor.

Allan Denney, Catesby House, Holgate Road, York.