Sue---besides the numerous resources available to family historians, and little bit of luck and persistance helps too. The luck I had was in relation to large families going back to the days of textile mills in West Yorks and the family members surrounding one of them, and who some of the notable people were, one of them being a Lt. of Horse, i.e. cavalry, killed at Newark in 1643.  Back in the 1100's, my extemely great/grandad was employed by Empress Maud (aka Matilda) who was daughter of King Henry 1st, and after yet another civil war after her father died, she'd fled to France in exile, and had a son who would later become King Henry 2nd; both these kings, of course, being grandsons of William The Conquorer.

My wife wanted her family history done and I discovered her connections to the Parliamentarians during the First Battle of Newbury, 1643. One of her familiy's farms had been used as a hospital during this battle. It really is amazing what turns up that you'd never expect in a million years, or nearly a thousand anyway.

Do you have any idea about the name of the orphanage Lyn? There are bound to be records preserved somewhere.

Only just been able to catch up here and would like to say thanks to Peter and Sue G-R for their opinions of me!

And Lyn, was the following mean't to be a joke? You wrote >>>I've tried and tried but can't get very far back with my ancestors, I seem to come to a dead end...Probably not mean't as a joke, but how easy it is to use a few words that could mean something entirely different.

Oh very funny Ronald, took me a while to work out what you meant but got there in the end LOL

Sue....yes its Dr Barnardo's, and they were the ones that named him when they took him in. I will investigate and see if they come up with anything. (Now lets see if Ron reads something into that too lol )