Although genealogical research necessarily proceeds backwards through time, I have found the results easier to follow when they are presented in chronological order, so this is how the book is arranged.

The main text body begins with some explanation of the origin(s) and meaning of the surname of the ‘start person’ (wherever possible), followed by the earliest known family bearing that surname, then from father to son down to the ‘start person’.

Each ‘nuclear’ family’s pages begin with a traditional-style family tree graphic, with the names, birth and death years, birthplace and the parents’ occupations, if known. This is followed by the records with images wherever possible, generally commencing with the record of the parents’ marriage.

Records of their children’s births (and any deaths noted), with census record images where applicable, follow in chronological order, with transcriptions and explanatory notes where necessary. Occupations recorded will be explained where necessary, particularly when these are either archaic or peculiar to the locality.

The family’s history is completed with the records of the parents’ deaths, wherever possible (these can sometimes be difficult to locate). If the deaths occurred in my local area, I may be able to include photos of the headstone (if any) or grave-site.

The chapter is completed by a pointer to your ancestor in the next generation, along with any of their siblings’ marriages which have been encountered in my research.

The family which includes the ‘start person’ is followed by that of the earliest known wife, organised in the same way.

As record images in the book are cropped down to include only the records of interest, the original full-size images are saved to the USB stick which accompanies the book, along with the PDF files from which the book was printed and a basic gedcom file.