Bob and Patsy Laker would welcome contact from any one with LAKER connections in order that they may exchange information and family history. They are members of GOONS, The Guild of One Name Studies, where they have registered the name LAKER as their main interest

The LAKER name originated in the south east of England, before spreading worldwide. They have over 5,000 references from Civil registrations and War Grave details to large family groups. The Shipley Lakers from whom Bob is descended has nearly 1500 members. (Shipley, West Sussex is a village only 2 miles from Southwater where they live )

The full set of family trees for the Sussex Lakers is now lodged at the West Sussex Record Office in Chichester. In time they hope to deposit the Surrey Trees at the Kingston Record Office and the Kent Laker trees at Maidstone and a full set of Lakers at the Society of Genealogists in London

As well as family details they are collecting any other Laker information such as photos, war service, trades, copies of old indentures, certificates and anything else that reflects the LAKER name. They would love to have copies of anything that you have

Their collection at present includes photos of jugs made in 1845 for Henry Laker of Billingshurst; an 1875 mariners certificate from Yorkshire ; copies of a letter written aboard ship in New Zealand in the 1860's; newspaper reports of a Laker death in Canada as a result of the Fenian invasion of Canada after the American Civil War . As well as obituaries, family snapshots etc., They would be pleased to return anything that is lent for copying.

They have written a few short articles on the Laker Family , which they will be pleased to send in exchange for Laker information

1 Laker Families and Dates

2 Origins of the Name Laker

3 How we started our Researches

4 Poor Law and the Lakers

5 Laker Places

6 The Laker Jug Puzzle

7 A Canadian Laker Dies for his Country

8 Ballarat and the Gold Diggers

9 Emigration to South Africa

They are also interested in the SWATTON and BOSWALL families and Sussex history in general.

Contact Patsy Laker by email

LAKER FAMILY / FAMILY HISTORY / SUSSEX /