Our interest in researching the "Glassby" family name started with a biscuit tin full of old photographs left behind by my wife's father, Ronald Glassby (1909-1993). My wife and I were both interested in identifying the people in the photographs so that we could catalogue and preserve them for posterity. The surname "Glassby" is relatively uncommon in the U.K., and for example there were only 55 "Glassby's" in the 1901 Census. The amount of information that we have collected over the last few years is staggering, and apart from our own researches we have been helped by substantial input from many other contributors, includingJulia Ashby, Gary Barker and Marion Allen (Mexborough & District Heritage Society), Joyce Whitehead (Isle of Axholme Family History Society), Susan Day, Brian Lewis, Yvonne Montgomery, Bernard Collier, David Hawkin, Virginia Alexander, Cris Caird, Lydia Saul (Cecil Higgins Art Gallery & Bedford Museum), Ann Chumbley, Arantza Barrutia-Wood and Clara Morgan (Museums Sheffield), Gerald Allen, Giles Bearley (Mexborough Charity Trust), Dalila Wallé (Museum Boerhaave, Leiden), Shelley Leavens (Drachen Foundation), Dave Walker (Kensington Central Library), John Wainwright, Joan Norton (Upper Chapel, Sheffield),  Frances Yeo (The Clifton Park Museum), Jean Kirby (St. Mildred’s Church, Whippingham),  Daniel Bell (Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd), Mark Pommeroy and  Karine Sarant-Hawkins (The Royal Academy Library and Archive), Peter Weller and Robert Thompson.

If you have any information or photographs that you are willing to share or if you have any questions where you feel I may be able to help please get in touch by email to the address above.

Chapter 1 Richard Glassby, born in Mexborough circa 1722.