This exchange of messages reminded me of the book "Bess of Hardwick," by David N. Durant. It is a portrait, based on facts from much research, of an Elizabethan Dynasty and very interesting. Bess, who became a friend of Queen Elizabeth I, built many mansions in different parts of England. Thomas ACCRES was her favorite master mason, also a favorite of her fourth husband, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (George Talbot). Thomas ACCRES died in 1607 on a farm he had on Bess's lands in Derbyshire. I am wondering if anyone has found Thomas to be an ancestor and willing to share with others? I am nowhere near that far back in my 30 plus years of research for ancestry of Henry AKERS, b 1801 KY. I copied the info from the book where Thomas is mentioned as well as a little outline of Bess Hardwick and would be happy to share it. Noreen (Noreen Pearson Bryant)