Interesting thread. Its strange how we all want to go back and find our past histories. My Dad never spoke of his past and did not want us to talk about it (which we now realise was due to the fact his Mum was not married when she had him) and Mum spent some of her childhood in an orphanage. My niece has researched the family tree but we found a fair bit of sad stories; paupers graves, workhouse births, and dead ends, plus interesting stuff like possible roma links; my niece and I laid flowers on graves relating to both sides of the family in Ford cemetery and I have decided to leave it at that. I think perhaps my Dad has cursed any further research. My niece carries on. Its too sad for me though. I will stick with the present!