News Release

The Family Tree of a Yorkshire MP

Nigel Adams, Member of Parliament for Selby and Ainsty, enjoyed some family discoveries when presented with a framed, hand-calligraphied, Seven-Generation Family Tree. Local Family History volunteer-experts Teresa and Martin Wiles, from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Selby, researched extensively to learn about Mr Adams's relatives; stretching back into the 1600s.

 

Through a living relative of the MP (who Teresa Wiles also managed to contact) a whole bundle of archives, diaries and photographs were discovered, including some stately portraits.

The information was prepared and presented firstly on the Seven-Generation Family Tree and then also organised into Family Groups where names went beyond seven generations.
 
One line of research uncovered ancestors who were pioneers in the Staffordshire Potteries, developing the 'china' industry with the Wedgewood Family. They eventually moved to Yorkshire in the 19th century.
 
Mr Adams said "I knew that my mother's side of the family were coal-miners but I had no idea that my ancestors were pioneers of the pottery industry alongside Joshua Wedgwood. It's quite amazing really and I am so grateful for the painstaking research done by Teresa and Martin."
 

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