AFTER tracing my family tree back over nearly 200 years in North Shields I have discovered a new connection with York. My great, great, great grandfather, a shipwright named John Bridekirk Anderson, was described as 'native of York' when the baptism of his third son George was recorded on June 7, 1812. He had married a North Shields girl in 1804 - so why did he arrive from York? Bridekirk is a name which was repeated in succeeding generations of Andersons. I hope readers may be able to help me.

Roy Anderson,

Lynwood,

Snailbeach,

Shrewsbury SY5 0NX.

(e-mail: info@andersononline.co.uk)

Updated: 10:23 Tuesday, November 27, 2001