The history of the Cragg family, who lived in England until 1859 before emigrating to Sydney Australia. The story commences in the heart of England's Lake District in a Keswick poor house and moves to the towns of Workington and Cockermouth. The majority of the family, while in Cockermouth, enter the woollen mills in the midst of a socially tumultuous time where mass rallies call for significant political change and widespread enfranchisement. Hunger, disease, imprisonment and the hint of rebellion.

Between 1455 and 1485, 15th century England was ravaged by war. The dynastic struggle was between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York The "Red" and "White" Roses. These books are of people and places, listing them and trying to locate their situations on maps of the counties ( Shires ).

"The volume provides a detailed account of the Symson family, and an appendix profiles some 200 correspondents, including many north west families."--BOOK JACKET.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1874.