Dear Bill and Denise Thanks for your answers. Stoke Lyne is the earliest certain info I have on my family. As you say I'll have to try wills but as I don't know Richard's parents and where they were from, it is almost like looking for the proverbial needle. I was hoping that someone could establish whether Richard of Tysoe was married in Warks. Thanks for putting me right on my mental arithmetic. Yes, it is possible for 30 'rearing' years if one starts young enough, probably longer. If you have any other ideas, I'd be pleased to hear them. I think I'm going to have to go through all the Richards of that time and trace part of their family. Regards, Maureen.