THE RED PAGES: WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

Prime Minister

This is version 7.01 of the Craxford family tree - a family apparently originating in Gretton, Northamptonshire, England in the early 1600s. My sister Brenda drew up the first tentative tree some years ago but my interest was sparked when I found another Alan the same age as me and born only 40 miles away from my home town - and we did not even know of each other's existence! Alan's sister, Maureen, had also been similarly active in gathering data. Information to date has been collected laboriously from parish records and archives as well as web searches of the internet, Ancestry.com, findmypast.com, UK Census Collection (1851 - 1911), FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints database) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site.

From a data management point of view this web site is the product of two separate software systems. The main database is held on a local computer using the genealogy package Legacy7. This is also where the articles are written and formatted and the photographic materials are processed. The family tree information is then transferred to a mainframe web server and this site is maintained using the TNG (The Next Generation) site building programme. You can see more of this on Page 5 on the Contents section. We started off, quite reasonably, documenting just our own immediate family and, because of the somewhat unusual nature of our name, were content to maintain the database as a single name project. After the site had been running for some months, and a certain amount of interest and notoriety had been generated, first one and then several other people and families wanted to get involved too.

As our investigations have progressed we have become aware of other researchers digging through the same archives. Some we have liaised with and shared the fruits of our labours. Some indeed have set down their own trees where our branches have touched and interlinked. Our family tree does not stand in isolation. In this section we are pleased and proud to introduce our near neighbours in this forest. We are in collaboration, not competition, with each other. If you can't find what you are looking for in these pages please give them a try (and tell them who sent you!)

The first group use the same genealogy presentation software (TNG) as us. This gives us an added advantage as we can provide links direct to their search pages. You will find these within the left hand navigation bars of their relevant colour section. The second group contain links to other related trees. Most of these can be found in the Ancestry community. Some are open resources, some require a login account for which you will need to contact the co-ordinator.

THE ELIZABETH SMITH FAMILY GENEALOGY PAGES
(The RED pages) Main names here are Knight, Smith and Drinkwater - they are entangled with the Craxfords in Gretton and Rutland.

ANNE BROOKS' ANCESTRY
(The BLUE pages) Continue your explorations into the progenitors of the Nessworthys - the Nosworthy Family from Devon - back to their roots and across the Atlantic to Canada.

THE LISTON-SMITH GENEALOGY PAGES
(The OLIVE pages) Another tree rooted in the ancestry from Oakham and Barrowden, Rutland explores the Cotterill, Liston-Smith, Matkin Families.

MITCHELL FAMILY ONLINE
(The PURPLE pages) Contains another Cox family, this one from Gloucestershire, who emigrated to Australia.

The ANDREW-COX-GODFREY HOME PAGE
(The PURPLE pages) Louisa Craxford married Joseph Cox from Northamptonshire. Their granddaughters emigrated to New Zealand and married into the Andrew family.
Email: Phillipa

FOSKETT GENEALOGY: The History of a Family
(The TEAL pages) Joseph Cook married Mary Ann Foskett (maternal side great great grandparents) in rural Buckinghamshire. This web site documents her ancestry and lines of descent.
Email: Sandra

CRANE POWELL: UK TO USA
(Ancestry) Our link is through Enos Jackson of Lincolnshire and Caroline Craxford of Gretton and spreads west to California.
Email: Alex

DAVID HARRINGTON FAMILY TREE
(Ancestry) This tree links to ours through Sarah Craxford and George Smith of Gretton. Over 6000 names from Harrington and beyond.
Email: David

THE HOBBS AND HOODS FROM KENT
(Ancestry) We find a large database of Hobbs and Hoods in the South East corner of England connected with and descended from Lizzie Alice Claypole of Cottingham, Northamptonshire.
Email: Len

THE LIQUORISH FAMILY
This is another tree centred on the villages of Gretton and Cottingham. It links to ours through William Liquorish and Lucy Craxford.
Email: Phil

to be expanded .....

Newfloridian - Site Administrator

GOODBYE OLD FRIEND
(Added December 19th 2011)

Our housemate and companion for over sixteen years, died today. A creature of habit and his own comfort, he knew his place (and ours!) in life. Equally at home with us and with grandma, he had the run of the house and neighbourhood. A discerning gourmand, he fully appreciated seared tuna, griddled steak and cheesey cat treats in equal measure.
Scamp, we will miss you.

THE TIMELINES WORLD'S BEST WEB AWARD - May 30th 2011

CATERING FOR MODERN SCREENS AND BROWSERS

The Craxford Family web site, and the TNG software which underlies and supports it, is in a constant state of change and upgrading. This is at least in part in recognition of the continuing improvement in computer hardware and software. The original design for these pages was tailored for their appearance on screens generally much smaller and of lower resolution than their counterparts today.

Although not wishing to become too technical, the average screen resolution six years ago was rated at 800x600. A recent survey of visitors to the site showed that more than half are now using wide screen monitors with screen resolutions of 1280x1040 or better. While most readers are happy with the content, a fairly common query has been why the pages must be so narrow leaving large amounts of background exposed to the right and left. This has been made increasingly obvious with our implementation of colour coordinated background schemes.

We have therefore taken the decision to cater for this newer audience. In future, the composition of the "index pages" of all the sections will be adjusted to a wide screen format and the content will be formatted into three columns instead of two. The "optimal screen resolution" notice at the foot of the page will be adjusted accordingly. We have retained copies of the older two column format of these pages for readers whose monitors cannot render this wider resolution happily. They can be accessed via the prominent "2 column" link placed in the page title.

For the time being the existing article pages will remain in a single column format. New articles will be formatted in a 2 column wide screen format which should be viewable at all screen resolutions. From early 2012, there will be a rolling programme of conversion when articles require updating. The information display pages (surnames, places etc) were already set to a wider page width.

THE GUILD OF ONE-NAME STUDIES
Added January 14th 2007
The Craxford surname has been registered with the Guild. We will be happy to respond to any queries this may produce.

THE SITE IN ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGES

A multi-language facility has been added to the site. Initially three languages - French, German and (Brazilian) Portuguese, as well as English, - are supported although more are planned. We have adopted a two stage procedure in an endeavour to maintain as accurate a translation as possible. The language of the software (background text, menus, navigation etc) is changed using the upper rightmost dropdown menu and affects every page. The language of the articles can be changed using the Google translator menu which is located towards the bottom of the magazine pages. More information about this new service can be found on the FAQ page of the CONTENTS section.

OUR SEVENTH SUPPLEMENT

We are pleased and proud to launch our seventh colour supplement, the ORANGE pages, which introduces the Moores and Walpoles from Northamptonshire and the Ankers of neighbouring Cambridgeshire . Although distant from the main trunk of the tree, these families are linked to us - often by both marriage and a shared history. Several of the articles which appeared on the "Research Done" page have now been moved into the new section.

MOST WANTED: A selection of individuals, families and photographs from our family tree for which our information is incomplete. Can you help us identify them or provide information which will overcome these deadends?

If you have any questions or comments about the information on this site, please contact us at either Alan or Newfloridian. We look forward to hearing from you.

Page last updated: January 10th 2012

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THE NEW CRAXFORD COAT OF ARMS

After a long gestation period, we can proudly unveil this new coat of arms. The full story of its design and background can be found here:
NO SUCH THING AS A CRAXFORD FAMILY
COAT OF ARMS!

A GLOSSARY OF GENEALOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
(Added August 4th 2011)
Are you confident about the relationships within your family tree? Do you know your second cousin three times removed from your third cousin twice removed? With the help of some simple tree charts we have tried to provide a straightforward answer to a number of confusing kinship definitions in this new addition to the GREY pages.

The latest three published articles are listed below. To see other recent additions click here for: THE CONTENTS PAGE

We are always seeking to update and enhance the material presented in the colour sections of our magazine. Additional information or media has been added recently to the following articles:

RED PAGES:
THE APPRENTICE
THE CRAXFORDS OF HUNTINGDON
COTTINGHAM, BACK TO OUR ROOTS

PURPLE PAGES:
THE BRITANNIA COMES TO THE CRAXFORDS
ALFRED LANE CRAXFORD - THEATRE MANAGER
SARAH'S TWISTED SKEIN

TEAL PAGES:
AUNTIE NELLIE'S STORY - NELLIE YOULE SWANN (1894 - 1970)

Starting here you will find items of general interest, editorials, stories of CRAXFORD ancestors and features about Northamptonshire, Leicester, the West Midlands and Yorkshire. Just use the page links towards the top of the red column on the left. Associate editors: Brenda Eldridge and Maureen Bird.

DEATH FOR THREEHA'P'ORTH OF SUCKERS
"Cottingham is situated in one of the loveliest districts of the county of Northampton ... but not the most beautiful spots on earth can enjoy an immunity from crime."

A WALK DOWN KING RICHARDS ROAD
"I have no idea what 'quited' love was so I don't know how you would get requited, let alone find yourself in the opposite condition... "

EL-ALAMEIN
"Apparently the 8th Army went into attack on Friday night and we are getting ready to move at any time."

SIMON GAINS HIS DEGREE
Simon John Craxford received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree at a Graduation Ceremony held at the University of Nottingham on July 16th 2010.

IPSE DIXIT - A SURVEY
Given the chance, what would you ask your great great grandmother? What would you like your great great grandchildren to know about you? I have now posted a short questionnaire which I hope will be of interest to family members. Please send me your contributions to the email address below