I created this tree out of the love and affection I have for Shirley who is my oldest and dearest  friend of almost 45yrs... Shirley has always been there for me, sometimes when I never even knew myself  that I needed her, and that is a rare quality.. I have never had much to give in return other than to  be there for her too if ever I am needed..

When she expressed a interest in learning about her family history I finally had something special and  unique to give her.. Something I could do to simply say thank you for being my friend..

When starting any family tree I never know where the journey is going to take me.. How far back I can  go and what I discover is all dependant on records.. the journey can sometimes be very short and  frustrating but this was not the case with The Maskell's..

It truly has been a wonderful and amazing journey.. it has taken well in excess of 500 hours but it is  by far the most comprehensive tree I have ever researched, including my own!  I have discovered 1334  names and of those names there are 340 DIRECT ancestors - they are Shirley's direct bloodline.. The  earliest record is 1515.. which is a staggering 500 yrs ago!

Records throughout the UK vary and even within this tree it is evident.. Fortunately the Maskell's and  the other families connected to them are mainly rooted in Surrey and the surrounding counties, which  have superb records.. the tree is now firmly planted in Surrey, but it's ancient roots reach out to  Middlesex, Hampshire, Sussex and Buckinghamshire..

Where possible I have attached original documents, some of which are quite stunning! Some are mere  scraps of church ledgers written hundreds of years ago, recording a baptism, marriage or burial.. Others are almost works of art and I suggest whoever looks at this tree takes time to look at them..

I have come to know most of Shirley's 'tree family' and although each one of the names on this tree is  important, a few have really touched my heart..Family research is carried out working back in time and  sometimes a character or family story unfolds that I feel quite emotional about..

Mary Billingus (1793-1891) was Shirley's Great Great Great Grandmother and hers was a tough life..

Thomas Maskell (1809) & wife Lucy Plumbridge's story was overwhelmingly sad and at times quite  disturbing.. Thomas Maskell is Shirley's Great Great Great Grandfather..

The connection through Shirley's Grandmother Sarah Louisa Keywood to a small primitive settlement in  Hersham aptly named 'Mud Town' and built by the Keywood family..the conditions of North Road, Hersham  that Edward Maskell and wife Caroline Fuller raised their family in..

War records have been found for those who perished and other war documents have been attached,  including many for Percy Maskell, Shirley's lovely Dad..

Some have tried to elude me like Philip Maskell (1889).. I had trouble finalising his story as I  couldn't find a death record, yet in the end all it took was a spelling mistake and the use of two L's  in Philip instead of one!!

I didn't find any connections to Royalty, landed gentry or great wealth! The twigs and branches that  make up this great tree are ordinary people, some living in difficult times in difficult circumstances..hard working and honest folk (with the exception of a certain Timothy Timms Snr (1756)  and his son Timothy Timms Jnr (1797) and John Monk (1762) whose misdemeanours were found and have now  been duly recorded in this tree..

This is my gift to Shirley to say thank you.. it is a 'living tree' that will never wither and although  some branches may fade and die, new twigs will emerge which will sustain it.. and all can be recorded  at the touch of a button!

I hope you enjoy getting to know all these amazing relatives..

With love

Jan xx

To help understand just how far back this tree goes and to give a idea of the times the people within  the tree, including the 340 direct ancestors, were living in I have created a time line in England...  the oldest root on this tree began in 1515 when Henry V111 was King of England....

1500 Henry V111 was King
 1527 Divorce crisis begins with Henry V111
 1537 Church of England established..previously England was Catholic 1547 Death of Henry V111.. Edward 1V is King but he is only a child 1553 Queen Mary 1 begins her reign
 1588 The Spanish Armada attempts to invade England
 1603 King James 1 begins his reign
 1605 The Gunpowder Plot
 1625 King Charles 1 reigns
 1642 English Civil War begins
 1649 Execution of Charles 1
 1660 King Charles 11 reigns
 1666 Great Fire of London
 1789 French Revolution
 1805 Battle of Trafalgar
 1815 Battle of Waterloo
 1837 Queen Victoria begins her long reign
 1868 Disraeli is Prime Minister
 1901 Queen Victoria dies & Edward V11 reigns
 1910 Edward V11 died and (mad) George V becomes King
 1914 World War One begins
 1918 World War One ends
 1936 Edward V111 abdicates and brother George V1 becomes King 1939 World War Two begins
 1945 World War Two ends
 1952 Elizabeth 11 becomes Queen

A explanation of how family history is researched and how to understand this tree.. until September  1837 all births, marriages and deaths were recorded in the parishes they took place in, or in the case  of marriages and if a licence was required, the district they took place in. These records vary in  content and availability - for example Sussex is not a particularly good county for records whereas  Surrey is exceptional..

In September 1837 under Queen Victoria's reign, all births marriages and deaths were to be  officially recorded and a system was devised which gave each part of the country a district, the year  was divided in to quarters and each districts ledger given a volume number which in turn had a page  number for each entry.. where you see I have attached such records these are unique reference numbers  for a individuals birth, marriage or death as it is recorded. For example a birth reference of   Chertsey/mar/5g/106 indicates that the birth took place in the district of Chertsey, between January -  March (1st quarter), was entered in volume 5g on page 106. This is the reference necessary to order  copy certificates if needed.

In 1841, again during the reign of Queen Victoria, a census was devised which should record every  individual in the land and should be repeated every ten years. The first census of 1841 yields little  information for a number of reasons! It only states names of those living in a household, does not give  relationship details of those individuals (ie husband/wife/child) and ages were usually vague or  rounded up or down to the nearest number, for example a 32yr old could be stated as 30yrs old, 35yrs  old or even 40yrs old. No place of birth was noted, only if born in the county the census was taken - a  yes or a no..

There was a lot of opposition, distrust or avoidance involved in all censuses, particularly the 1841 &  1851 censuses.. People often lied, gave false names or ages or simply did not participate so it is not  surprising that censuses are hard to decipher..That said, as the census system developed, it is a  incredible window in to the lives of the people who lived in England and a valuable asset for  researchers..

By the 1851 census the information requested improved and included relationships within a household,  occupations and where occupants were born.. the latest census available is the 1911 census which was  the first census sheet to be completed by the householders themselves so you can see ancestors own  handwriting, including their signatures..

Up until the 1911 census, a enumerator was employed to collect information from each household and  complete the censuses documents for their specific enumerating district themselves.. This is the reason  why so many spelling mistakes and errors can be found on census sheets, particularly the very early  ones, as often the enumerators themselves were not particularly literate..

These are the sources of all family research and the points of reference given for individuals in this  tree where applicable..

I prefer to tell a individuals story rather than upload endless references.. what you can be assured of  is that if I have written it I have seen it...

With so many individuals it would be impossible to upload every record found, there simply would not be  enough room and unless a direct ancestor, it seems unnecessary.. the greatest source of information I  found is the parish registers and with regard to the siblings or children of direct ancestors the dates  of baptisms, marriages and burials have all been entered along with where they took place..

The majority of information is concentrated on direct ancestors of Shirley but do not ignore the  siblings or other children as they might hold some detail or interest.. if for a specific reason they  may have had their details expanded, if they were found in a census with a direct ancestor perhaps or  any other reason which meant they needed to be explored further..

If there is a camera symbol next to a name, a record or photograph has been uploaded.. I found a few  individuals photographs on line which I have attached, and Sarah Scott helped enormously providing  some lovely family photos..

The site is easy to navigate and there are instructions on how to get the most from the site. I  particularly like the relationship tool whereby you can enter two names and see how they are related..

To make Shirleys journey back to the past easier I have highlighted each direct ancestor with a red dot  against their name..

I have not included the marriages and children of Shirley's siblings as I thought she would like to do  that herself, but I am always willing to help..