A INQUISITIVE woman is hoping the people of Braintree can help rack down some of her long lost relatives.

Jane Gray, 65, and from Saffron Walden, says researching her family tree has become an addiction.

The latest in a long line of mysteries she is trying to decipher is to find the relatives of her great uncle by marriage George Cottis, who lived in Braintree in the 1880s.

Mrs Gray said: “I found out about George being married to my great aunt and I just thought I would have a look where he came from and it turns out he lived in Braintree. He was one of seven children to his father George senior and mother Sarah.”

The seven seven siblings in order of age were Louisa, Lily, George, Edith, Ethel, Cassandra and Albert.

Mrs Gray said: “Their oldest daughter, Louisa, was said to be a silk winder at the age of 13.

"I have been into the Warner Textile Archive and they are going to have a look for me as if Louisa was a silk winder she probably worked there.

"Maybe there are some living relatives in Braintree toady or there may be somebody in Braintree who is doing a similar thing and they may know the Cottis name - I am really intrigued by what could happen.”

George and Ann Cottis lived in Cheshunt for most of their lives and Mrs Gray believes that the rest of the family stayed in Essex.

She said: “I thought I had never been to Braintree but when I was driving through the other day I recognised the fountain at the end of the high street.

"I am not sure whether I have been before when I was very young and a memory came back to me.

"Once you start getting into this you start finding out all sorts of things and it becomes incredibly addictive.”

Call 01376 334343 or email janempc@btinternet.com.