With a new year, hope again stirs within a manly breast, and prompts a renewed plea for family connections. Since those early Banburyshire ground breaking days frolicking among the usual miscreants, perhaps newer arrivals and lurkers hold the key to further progress. James Berry (1818-1898) was born in Cropredy and married Eliza Archer (1819-1896) in Buckingham 1843. Daughters Jane and Rebecca were born in North Aston, where James was a basket maker, but for some unfathomable reason the family then moved to Coventry where seven more children were born. Demonstrating our family gift for spotting potential winners, my great grandfather Thomas Gilbert ignored the nascent bicycle industry, married the eldest daughter Jane, and later inherited the basket weaving business. By 1881 father James Berry had returned to Cropredy where he lies buried with wife Eliza in Cropredy St Mary. The parents of James Berry are believed to have been Thomas Berry (1784-1856) and Hannah Farmer (1780-1831); with a total of six children born in the Appletree area, and James being the youngest. Very little is known about James’ siblings and any further information on this family would incur undying appreciation and gratitude. As a postscript for anyone who read the ghost tale in November, Jane’s sister Rebecca was mother to the fellow traveller. -- Joe Connell Firefox & Thunderbird portals Sunbelt Vipre & Firewall protection