Well, bringing this back on topic a little (the horror!), this thread inspired me to do some digging of my own, since until now I had been relying on third hand information, which it would seem is inaccurate.
So far I have found no evidence of involvement in the Light Brigade or of riches of any sort. However, what I have found has been quite fascinating. The family has been mostly agricultural based, although my great-great-grandfather did have a shoe warehouse in Swindon in the 1850s, and Charles seems to be a very popular name for the men, about four generations worth of Charles dating back to 1748 with a Philip thrown in for good measure.
There is quite a cute tale around the 1850s that involved Henry Hayes, my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather who fell in love with the family servant, Mary Ann Hall, married her, had two children but then sadly died eight years later. I mean, it's like something out of a Catherine Cookson novel!
Then there's the wife's side who had her great-grandfather marry the girl next door!
It's been quite fascinating work.
