The impulse for researching my family history came from the photographs of two of my maternal great-grandparents: Thomas Lucas and Louisa Cooper although, ironically,  these two proved to be 'brick walls' for some time. 
Genealogy is an odd pastime for someone who has no particular sense of 'roots' and no wish whatsoever to head count. However, I do like problem solving and following clues and evidence and I have a fascination with social history. I also have an obsession with accuracy. So, such pride as I have in my tree is not in the numbers of relatives  found, nor in the length of historical distance traced, but in the care that I have  taken and the results that I have achieved through reasoning, commitment and sheer  persistence! There is a great thrill to be had after hours of staring goggled eyed at film and microfiche (or, even, the occasional original document) when you find that vital link you have been seeking. I sometimes feel that archive offices should provide a room into which you could rush to punch the air and yell "Yes! Found it!!" 

I decided to create this WebTree for two reasons: although they did not affect  me personally, the floods of 2007 in England brought home to me the fact that a single 'disaster', such as a flood or a house fire, could destroy the work of  years spent in amassing information on my computer and in hard copy, leaving  nothing for my family for whom, as much as for myself, I had begun building  this family history. Secondly, when I did any research on the net, I had too  frequently encountered examples of unverified information or of downright inaccuracy,  creating trails that, if followed by me or my own family, would lead to false or,at best, questionable conclusions. As indicated above, I am too much of a pedant to accept that! So, although I cannot totally guarantee the accuracy of all the information contained here, I can promise that I have spent many hours not just on the web, but at  Records Offices and Archives in England and Wales, doing the best I can to  obtain verification. I have followed leads carefully and built links based on  evidence and reasoning. Very little can be 100% certain, but I have done my  best to establish all my facts at least on the balance of probability and, wherever possible, beyond reasonable doubt.

I have tried to avoid including information from unverified sources, but I may  sometimes have too readily accepted from living people unevidenced information as to  their own families, which may turn out to be flawed. I have found (and corrected!) errors in my own memories, let alone those of others who have been kind enough to give the best information they can. As my own main interest is in the past, it may  take a little while to ensure the accuracy of all such information, although I  hope to do so eventually. However, as the only information appearing here about  those still living is date of birth, any inaccuracies that have crept in there should not be too much of a problem, but if you recognize yourself as one of the LIVING  entries and discover that I have misrepresented you or yours, please let me know  and I will, with apologies, make the appropriate amendments. I have accepted records found on the net where copies of original documentation are viewable or where other corroboration is available. I have not included  full references for census records, but have simply listed them. They are easy  enough to cross check. I have, however, tried to point out where transcripts are apparently inaccurate, so that time is not wasted in looking up someone who is there,  but who may not be findable under their 'proper' name. 

Please note that some of the commentary for this Tree is not mine, but is  automatically generated by this excellent website. I am unable to change  certain formulae. Thus, when an Ahnentafel Report tells you 'they had one  child' of a couple you know had more, it will be because I have only entered  that one child so far. I may - or may not - know of any others. Please feel free  to tell me about any missing offspring.