Genealogy, the study of family lineage, is extremely important to Paul. By understanding where one comes from, one can often gain an insight into one’s personality traits and why certain aspects of your life are important. The environment one is raised and educated in certainly plays an important part in one’s life, but the genetic heritage encoded in one’s DNA also plays a crucial role.

Paul’s paternal family is Anglo-Irish in origin. Several generations ago his recent forebears migrated to the English / Scottish borders in the 1800s, en route to Devonshire. His maternal ancestors have long been resident in Devonshire, with parts of the family lineage traceable to the Norman Conquest (c. 1066).

Researching his lineage is a hobby which first engaged Paul’s attention in 2006, and this interest has continued to grow. Initially working alongside a professional genealogist, a former researcher/private assistant to Garter Principal King of Arms, at His Majesty’s College of Arms, further research has seen Paul’s family tree grow to include over 3,000 ancestors and numerous cousins of varying degrees.

Much of the effort has been dedicated to researching Paul’s maternal lines, which appear to stay firmly within the county of Devonshire, although many kin over the centuries have emigrated to Canada, the United States of America, New Zealand, Commonwealth of Australia, South Africa and many countries within Europe.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, intermarriage between the aristocratic and the land gentry classes was commonplace, while marriage between the traditional social classes was far less common than in the 21st century. From Paul’s 14th Great Grandfather, John Petre, and the marriages of his children, this practise has resulted in the family being distantly related to many ancient British families including the Dukes of Norfolk; Marquis of Bute; the Earls of Shrewsbury, Castlehaven, Denbigh, Granard; the Barons of Petre, Howard of Glossop, Thicknesse-Touchet, Clifford of Chudleigh; and the Baronets of Sheffield and Hanmer. 

Amongst the distant relatives there are individuals who have served as Secretaries of State to Tudor Monarchs; as Governor-General of Dominions  (including the 3rd Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia); and held key positions or central figures in politics, science, diplomacy, the Armed Forces in both the United Kingdom and in some cases internationally. 

Currently, the family lineages of Paul’s Maternal Grandparents have been updated (grandmothers to the 12th Century and grandfathers to the 16th), and updates to the Paternal lines are underway. 

Below is a small selection of biographies of both direct ancestors and distant relatives, whose lives and achievements are interesting, and which in some way intersect with Pauls.