My research started in 2003 with a few clues given to me by my mother.  It was soon  clear that the common use of "pet" names and middle names was not helpful in  searching for ancestors but they added spice to the initial search. Three of my four  grandparents were born in Buckinghamshire and their ancestors have all been traced  within the boundaries of Bucks and Oxon with only a recent discovery that they  strayed slightly over the border into Northants.  The fourth line started, as far as  I know, in Hampshire; moved north with the railways and then down to Bucks in the  early 1900s. I have visited record offices in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire,  Northants, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk and Devon and visited many churches to tread  where my ancestors have trod.  The search continues, some puzzles still exist, and  new information comes from all sorts of unexpected sources.

My latest find has been the military record of Thomas Reed (gr gr uncle born 1849) who enlisted in  the 81st Foot on 25th September 1865, claiming he was 18 years of age.  He took part in the battle  at Fort Ali-Musjid and gained the Afghan medal.

8th March 2011 and I have just returned from a trip to Loosley Row and Lacey Green where I visited  a historical exhibition.  Family trees were in evidence and I soon found people at the exhibition  who were distant relatives. This had led to an exchange of information and additions to this tree.

13th June 2011, and I have just returned from Lincolnshire where I had hoped to find a few missing  details about my gr grandparents James and Jane Reed, also the baptism of grandfather Albert.   Sadly, the baptism still eludes me, but if the family were Baptists, then this would not have  taken place in Gainsborough.  I had better luck with the burials of Jane and James thanks to the  wonderful service provided by Gainsborough Town Council.  Not only were they able to tell me the  plot number of the grave - they were buried in the same plot even though the deaths were nearly 30  years apart - the cemetery manager was prepared to meet us and show us the plot as it was  unmarked.  We also found the roads where they had lived and have taken photos.  Check out all the  new photos in the album Gainsborough.

 June 2011 - Cousin Evan has also sent some photos of Albert and Florence.

July 2011 - I have now been contacted by Michelle Smedley who is a granddaughter of Jane  Elizabeth Allethea 
 Reed, my half great aunt.  I was unable to find her on any census after 1901 and the reason is now  apparent.  She was brought up under the name of Jennie Hockney when her mother Allethea left James  Reed and returned to her home town of Hull.  Here she lived with Edward Hockney and subsequently  had two more daughters with him.   Jane (Jennie) may never have known that her real father was  James Reed as her marriage certificate shows her name as Hockney and her father as Edward  Hockney.  Jane lived until she was 100, and has a large number of descendants.