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A'Bear is such an unusual and rare name that it is worthy of note, especially in Berkshire where all A'Bears know their roots lie. The family lived in the parish of Wargrave from at least 1318 and did not finally leave until 1928.

My father, Michael Ford of Yateley (Hants) has been tracing the history of our cousins, the A'Bear family, since 1979. In 1982, he was contacted by Stephen Leach, grandson of Winnie (A'Bear) Leach of Bledington (Oxon), who wished to find out more about the name of A'Bear. This book is the fruit of his endeavours: not so much a history of the A'Bear family as a discussion of their origins and the documents recording their dealings over the centuries.

Since Stephen's writing in 1985, however, several points have come to light which have adjusted slightly some of the information laid down in his work. This copy therefore, though it has essentially been left untouched, includes additions and corrections in 'A'Bear Blue'.

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