life is to be found in this extensive exploration of my family, bound up with those hundreds of other families intertwined in the weave of history. Accompanied by hundreds of illustrations, family trees, photographs and maps, this book is for everyone who is interested in exploring their own family and linking with those names recorded. Each chapter or section has a couple of pages for family notes for others to fill in the gaps or extend their story, and a Gazetteer at the back assists in locating particular family names within the volume. I hope this opus will inspire many to follow their trail, wherever it may lead them! For sure, it will root their own lives deeper in time.