My father tracked one branch of our family back to the late 18th Century and a gentleman who went by the splendid name of Diggory Cock.

This branch were apparently wealthy, with a house in Eaton Square (a very fashionable part of London) but unfortunately one of my 19th Century ancestors managed to lose it all. We are left with a few miniature portraits (late 18th/early 19th Century by the costumes) and the family resemblance is striking, even after 200 years.

Another branch of the family on my mother's side were Hampshire peasants. George Gardiner collected a few songs from someone with the family name who I like to think was a relative, although I have haven't conclusively proved it.