My great-great grandfather was Thomas Boot, born in 1836 in South Normanton (and probably therefore the son of Richard and Elizabeth (nee Wood). He married Sarah Marriott and they had at least seven children, of whom the youngest, Mary Ethel, was my great-grandmother.

Ethel (as she was known) was born in 1887, and in 1890 her father was killed in an accident in Pilsley colliery, where he worked as a stallman. By 1891 Ethel's older sister Gertrude was living with another older sister Clara, who was married and living in Darvel, Scotland. I believe Sarah Boot died in 1897 and at this point, or possibly before, Ethel also moved to live with Clara. Clara was married to Frank Barker, and Gertrude married William Kerr.

Of the other children, the eldest, Annie, is said to have moved to Canada. William and George Alfred stayed in the Pilsley area. There is no family recollection of Edith Ellen, who appears on the 1881 and 1891 census as another daughter of Thomas and Sarah.

Thomas seems likely to have been the son of Richard and Elizabeth Boot, although I can't confirm this. I have yet to trace the marriage of Thomas Boot and Sarah Marriott, although I know the maiden surname is correct from Gertrude's Scottish marriage certificate, which usefully gave this information!

If anyone recognises this family, I would love to hear from you!