I was born Sparshott but my name was changed to Peter McNulty at approximately 3 yrs old when my mother remarried. The name that I use today is simply an alias: the only times that I have had to refer to my Sparshott name have been when I married. Of course, I have only one birth certificate and that's in the name of Peter Sparshott. This involuntary name change has never worried me but it has certainly exercised some people!

My own research shows that my GGGFather, William Sparshott was probably born in Browning Hill, Baughurst, Hampshire about 1805; it is still a hamlet today not two miles from my current home in Tadley. I have lived in Tadley since 1993 but have only known of Browning Hill's existence since 1990 which I find to be an extraordinary coincidence.

So far, of the family I have traced, most have settled in the southeast/southwest of England but there is a strong contingent in Australia descended from a younger son of William (see above).

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My research has been greatly helped by the Linda O'Carroll (née Spashett) and her family plus many other Sparshotts too numerous to mention here. Linda publishes very useful and interesting books on Sparshott history, copies of which are still available. My own family: my wife, Janie, and my mother, Queenie, have provided much help and encouragement. In addition, many individual Sparshotts from around the world have added to the database.

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I collect Sparshott-related memorabilia. Among the items I have already acquired are a hand painted representation of the shield (top left), photos, postcards, old wills - both originals and copies, books and theatre programmes. The Sparshott name crops up in modern books and TV scripts, e.g The Avengers.

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Many of us have interesting photos of our ancestors. Why not scan your favourite Sparshott photo and email it to me...

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