My father traced our family back to the Norman conquest. In the early days my ancestors were rent collectors for the equivalent of the lord of the manor, the first being Roger of Poitou. Poitou's father led the right wing of the Norman army at the Battle of Hastings. Although otherwise undistinguished, that activity apparently made us reasonably prosperous and we occupied Trawden Hall in the north of England for over 500 years.
No special claim to fame, although the first ever Methodist meeting and the first ever Quaker assembly were both held in our home.
Oh and we have a coat of arms: three holly leaves on a shield under a red cross, the latter indicating participation in the Crusades. It seems likely however that we "borrowed" this design from a similarly named Scottish family and may not have been entitled to use it
