Hi Fiona

Thank you for the reply.
We have Thomas's Birth Certificate which states he is born of Emma Hitchins on 26 Feb 1838 at Barton Street. There is no Father named. He was baptised at St Mary-de-Lode on 18 March 1838.
My Mother and I have been scouring records in Bristol for any trace at all and come up with nothing. Only Thomas's residence in the 1841 census with Elizabeth Mook and family, 3 doors down from where he was born.
We tried putting together the details of Elizabeth Mook to see if there was any possible relation to her, but also came up with nothing.
If you'd like to take a look at our tree, its the massive Rutherford/Simpson one here on Ancestry, run by Mother - it may just make things more confusing though, lol!
Kindest Regards,
Nonna64