The initial research began in the mid 1980's by Robert Irving and Irving Graham, who  were both tracing the "Irving" tree. Robert Irving had been given a newspaper article  about the Irving Family of Wetheral,Cumberland ,which had been written by his cousin  once removed, Irving Graham. Then the first contact was made between the Irvings and  the Grahams (Eleanor Irving's family) and research began around 1984. Robert Irving then went on to re-unite the families of the brothers Thomas Watson Irving and Joseph Irving in 1985.

Then in 2008, the Irving Tree was combined with the "Wightman" Tree, which had been compiled by Robert Irving and Richard Cobley in 1986. Robert Irving met Richard Cobley by complete chance and mentioned he was tracing the "Irving" family. Studying  the tree, Richard Cobley discovered they were related, both having mothers who were  Wightmans.

The IRVING WIGHTMAN FAMILY TREE includes not only the Wightmans, but also the Hensons,  Atkinsons,Primes,Heslops and over 230+ other families.

The Irving Family can be traced back to a William Irving born 1760 at Bromfield,  Cumberland, who married a Frances Wise in 1787. The Irvings were farmers and have  strong links to Scotland, through the female bloodlines of Ferguson, Black and  Huddart.

Many generations of the Irving family were associated with the village of Wetheral in  Cumberland, including Richard Irving (1854-1929)and his wife Margaret nee Watson (1859-1904). (see under PEOPLE.."Stories")

In 1927, A branch of the Irving Family moved south to Oxfordshire, eventually  residing and farming in Leicestershire. Also another branch moved to Africa in the late 1950's to become cotton farmers in Zimbabwe, the former Rhodesia.

Through DNA testing the Irvings can be traced back from northern England into southern Scotland, Ireland and Spain. There DNA comes from one of the smallest countries in Europe, Andorra which lies between Spain and France in the Pyrenees mountains range.

The Wightman Family can be traced back to the de Beaumonts and Earls of Leicester, also further on to Normandy at the time of The Battle of Hastings 1066. Beyond that via The Saxon Kings known as the von Sachsen family and further on to Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Wightman tribal roots lie in Scandinavia.

At the time of George Wightman (Lord Ansley) of  Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire born around 1450. We can trace a female line to Sir William Trussell  born 1040). George Wightman was Lord of the Manor.

The Wightmans were living in Burbage around 1460. They were living in Hinckley in 1600 and by the mid 1600's John Wightman was at Peckleton Hall, Leicestershire. At this time another branch moved to America. The Rev William Wightman, a Baptist Preacher, moved to Rhode Island.

The Atkinson Family were in Kirkby Thore and Morland, Westmorland around 1700. They were  farmers.

The Heslop Family were in Farlam, Cumberland in 1760. They were farmers/coal agents.

The Prime Family were in Sibson, Leicestershire in 1710. They were coalminers/farm  labourers.

The Henson Family were in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire around 1800. They were farm  labourers.