I am the only child of Eric Henry Woodward and Jessie May Woodward. I was born in Sydney, NSW, Australia. My parents have since passed and I'm continuing to try and complete our family tree. My father was born on 11 December, 1920, in Kempsey, NSW, Australia, and moved to Sydney where he met and married my mother. He passed on 12 August, 2001, in Sydney, NSW, Australia. He was one of 6 children. My mother was born on 8 November, 1918 in Sydney, NSW, Australia, and passed on 29 September, 1984, in Sydney, NSW, Australia.
My mother and father's marriage and life together was an extremely happy one, with Eric buying his wife Jessie, her dream home, (as she called it), in Linley Point, Sydney, NSW, Australia. The couple, together with their only daughter Megan, spent many happy years at Linley Point. Residents in the neighbourhood use to call Eric..."The Mayor of Linley Point".
Over the years my father built up an extremely lucrative company, manufacturing wire. So successful was this company that a subsidiary of BHP, made him an offer, as the saying goes, that he couldn't refuse. He stayed on as Director of the company, until his retirement. His hobby was Real Estate, where he eventually became a Developer.
My parents are the grandparents of my daughters, Courtney Vanessa Benger and Lyndsay Jessica (Benger) Foo. My daughters were christened in 1983 at our family home in Linley Point, Sydney NSW Australia by their grandfather Rev. R. Benger.

After completing a course in Genealogy at the University of Strathclyde, in Scotland, I believe it has given me a more understanding and insight into genealogy and how it works.
My g/grandfather, Henry Daniel Woodward who served in World War l was a man of the bush. He was born in Gerringong, Kiama New South Wales after his father died. I have added some notes about him in the below 'Research Notes' heading.

Our family roots go back to Scotland, England, and Europe. Our connection with Royalty, is on both sides of the family, however, the closest connection to Royalty comes through my mothers side of the family. Through my 7th G/Grandfather, John Hamilton, who was born in Hamilton Scotland and through my 3rd Great Grandfather, Joseph Cope, who was born in Cheshire England, United Kingdom.
Sir James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton happens to be my 7th G/Grandfather, John Hamilton's 4th G/Grandfather. Sir James is my 13th G/Grandfather.
Please click above heading "Media" for photos of our "Direct Line-Family Tree" to our ancestors/descendants of The Cope Family of England, and The Hamilton Family of Scotland.

Sir William Cope, Cofferer of the Royal Household of King Henry Vll is my 14th Great Grandfather. Sir Anthony Cope who obtained Bruern Abbey is my 13th Great Grandfather.
Sir Walter Cope MP, Master of the Court of Wards, Exchequer of the Chamberlain and public Register General of Commerce in England, is my 11th G/Granduncle.
Sir William Cope 2nd Baronet, MP for Banbury is my 10th g/grandfather, and Lady Elizabeth Chaworth is my 10th g/grandmother. Sir George Chaworth is my 11th g/grandfather. Elizabeth Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury is my 3rd cousin 16 times removed, both descendants of Thomas Chaworth.

John Hamilton 1st of Broomhill is my 12th G/Grandfather. Sir James Hamilton, 6th Laird of Cadzow and 1st Lord Hamilton, (John Hamilton's father) is my 13th G/Grandfather. James Hamilton 2nd Lord Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran is my 12th great granduncle. Sir James Hamilton, 2nd of Arran, Duke of Chatellerault is my 1st cousin 13times removed. Sir James Hamilton of Finnart is my 1st cousin 13times removed. Alexander Hamilton is my 7th cousin 6 times removed, both descendants of John Hamilton 1st of Broomhill. Alexander was an American Revolutionary, Statesman and Founding Father of the United States of America. He is on US currency notes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton. It is believed that his father was James A. Hamilton. His grandfather was Alexander Hamilton Vl of Grange. The musical "Hamilton" is about him.
James Hamilton 1st Duke of Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Cambridge, KG PC is my 4th cousin 10times removed.
Lady Anne Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton is my 5th cousin, 9times removed. Lord Sir William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk, is my 5th cousin, 9times removed. Sir James Hamilton 4th Duke of Hamilton is my 6th cousin, 8times removed. Sir James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn KG PC, is my 11th cousin 3times removed. His wife Lady Louisa Jane Russell is also my 11th cousin 3 times removed, I believe.
King Edward lll is my 1st cousin 22 times removed. This is through our ancestors - The Cope family from England. I have since discovered that King Edward lll is my 21st G/Grandfather. This is through our ancestors from Scotland - The Hamilton Family.
Henry Vlll King of England is my 3rd cousin 16 times removed. King James Charles Stuart Vl & 1 of England, Ireland is my 4th cousin 10times removed. Charles l King of England, Scotland and Ireland, is my 5th cousin 9times removed. King Charles ll, is my 6th cousin 8times removed. Queen Mary of Teck of United Kingdom is my 13th cousin once removed. King Albert Frederick Arthur George V of the United Kingdom is my 14th cousin. Queen Elizabeth l is my 3rd cousin 13 times removed. Mary Stuart Queen of Scots is my 5th cousin 14 times removed. Willem Hendrik of Orange, Willem lll, William lll, King of England, Scotland and Ireland is my 7th cousin 7 times removed. Queen Alexandrina Victoria Hanover of Great Britain is my 12th cousin twice removed. Queen Elizabeth ll Alexandria Mary Windsor is my 13th cousin. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother is my 12th cousin once removed. This connection is through a different line of our family.

Lady Jane Spencer born 1462 is my 14th Great Grandmother.
Sir John Spencer of Althorp is my 1st cousin 16 times removed.
Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales is my 12th cousin, once removed. Her father Viscount Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, is my 12th cousin, thru our family tree on FS. Her brother Earl Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer is also my 12th cousin once removed. However, I have just been looking at our connection via my family tree, on Geni.com, and via an In-Law Relationship, Earl Charles Spencer is my 2nd cousin's wife's-(Arabella Cope), 1st cousin 6 times removed. https://www.geni.com/path/Megan-Woodward+is+related+to+Charles-Spencer-9th-Earl-Spencer?from=6000000176152770903&path_type=inlaw&to=6000000001436319637.
Arabella's mothers' father was Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland. Quite amazing.

I found this invitation whilst going through photos. It was in an envelope, and, for some reason it was missed. My grandmother was a very giving lady, and I can only assume that the invitation was regarding some of her time that she gave to charity work. Unfortunately, I will never know now. The Duchess of Gloucester who was married to Prince Henry William Frederick Albert Sachsen-Coburg_und Gotha Windsor, (son of King George V ) and the 1st Duke of Gloucester is my grandmother's 10th cousin once removed, both descendants of Frances (Lytton) Cope. She is my mother's 11th cousin with the same descendant., and the Duchess of Gloucester is also my 11th cousin once removed, again, we all share the same descendant - Frances (Lytton) Cope. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Alice%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester.
Prince Henry was the 11th Governor General of Australia. He served from 1945-1947.
I believe, it is only fitting that I add the most honourable and memorable invitation to my grandmother's profile. Please click the above "Media" button to view the invitation.

The Right Hon. Sir Angus James Bruce Ogilvy KCVO, who was married to Princess Alexandria - granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary is my 11th cousin twice removed, both descendants of William Paston. Sir Edward Harlely, 2nd Earl of Oxford is my 7th cousin 7 times removed, also through a different line of our family - Sir William Cockayne, Lord Mayor of the City of London is my 11th G/Grandfather. Sir John Levison- Gower 1st Earl of Gower is my 4th cousin 8 times removed, according to FS. Again through - Sir William Cockayne. Lady Catherine Manners is my 3rd cousin 9 times removed. John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland is my 3rd cousin 11 times removed. Henry John Brinsley Manners 8th Duke of Rutlan' is my 8th cousin 5 times removed.

Sir Winston Churchill, he is my 10th cousin twice removed. Alexander Charles Frederick Douglas-Home, 66th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is my 10th cousin twice removed, via our family tree on FS. This is through my ancestor's, the Cope family. FS have the tree going thru John Manners mother - Catherine Wroithesley, then, her mother Countess Elizabeth Bertie, then Martha Cokayne. as opposed to his father, John Manners on WT.
Lady Jane Spencer born 1462 is my 14th Great Grandmother.
Sir John Spencer of Althorp is my 1st cousin 16 times removed.

Lt.Col. Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, who was the 10th Governor of NSW, Australia, is my 11th cousin 3 times removed and is also the husband of my 10th cousin, 4times removed- his wife, Lady Mary Lennox. Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond is my 10 cousin, 4times removed. Alan Ian Percy 8th Duke of Northumberland is my 13th cousin. George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert 5th Earl of Carnavon is my 10th cousin twice removed, descendant thru Sir William Cockayne. This is from our family tree on FS. Col. Thomas Legh is my 8th cousin 10 times removed. Major Ronald Ferguson the father of Sarah Ferguson (Prince Andrew's ex wife) is my 10th cousin once removed.

After researching and finding information regarding another descendant to our family tree, I came across this amazing find. We are related to Hon. Sir Gerald Paul Cajetan Carmel Antony Martin Strickland GCMG. He is my 10th cousin 3 times removed, both descendants of Maud Vaux, from our tree on FamilySearch.org. He married Edeline Sackville, who is our 7th cousin 3 times removed, both descendants of Anna (Fermor) Cope. Lady Edeline became Contessa della Catena.
Sir Gerald was born in Malta, and became the 6th Count Catena. https://www.santfournier.org/MN/Catena.html.
Sir Gerald was the 23rd Governor of NSW from 1913-1917
15th Governor of Western Australia from 1909-1913.
He was also the 4th Prime Minister of Malta.
The family residence in the United Kingdom was a castle called Sizergh, which was in the county of Westmorland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sizergh.
Edward l King of England is my 21st G/Grandfather.
Edward ll King of England is my 21st G/Grand Uncle.
Hugh le Despenser, 1st Lord Despenser is my 21st G/Grandfather.
Baroness Margery (Despenser) Wentworth is my 16th G/Grandmother - https://www.geni.com/path/Megan-Woodward+is+related+to+Baroness-Margery-Wentworth?from=6000000176152770903&path_type=blood&to=6000000003219681997. From our family tree on Geni.com. John de Ros was her 1st husband.
John de Ros, 7th Baron de Ros is my 3rd cousin 17 times removed - https://www.geni.com/path/Megan-Woodward+is+related+to+John-de-Ros-7th-Baron-de-Ros-of-Helmsley?from=6000000176152770903&path_type=blood&to=6000000003219699659. His father William de Ros was the Treasurer of England.
Sir Henry Wentworth Kt, is my 16th Great uncle - https://www.geni.com/path/Megan-Woodward+is+related+to+Sir-Henry-Wentworth-Kt?from=6000000176152770903&path_type=blood&to=6000000006444085575, from our family tree on Geni.com.
Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March is my 21st G/Grandfather.
William The Conqueror King of England, is my 26th G/Grandfather.
Isabella of France, Queen Consort of England is my 3rd cousin 21 times removed.
Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley is my 22nd G/Grandfather.
Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Lord Berkeley is my 22nd G/Granduncle.
Elizabeth (Despenser) Berkeley is my 1st cousin 21 times removed, both descendants of Isabel (Beauchamp) le Despenser.
Lt. Col.Thomas Ligon born 1623/1624 is my 6th cousin 13 times removed.

I'm also related to some of the American Presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States of America. He is my 5th cousin 5times removed, according to Ancestry.com. This connection is thru his father-Peter Jefferson. However, thru Wikitree and FamilySearch he is my 8th cousin 6 times removed. Other presidents that I'm related to are: (FS did a famous relatives relationship,see link in sources).
Franklin D. Roosevelt, is my 12th cousin twice removed.
Harry Truman, is my 11th cousin three times removed.
Abraham Lincoln, is my 9th cousin twice removed.
Calvin Coolidge, is my 8th cousin five times removed.
William Henry Harrison, is my 8th cousin six times removed.
Benjamin Harrison, is my 11th cousin twice removed.
Millard Fillmore, is my 11th cousin three times removed.
James Garfield, is my 11th cousin three times removed.
Justin Trudeau 28th President of Canada is my 16th cousin once removed.

Elvis Aaron Presley is my 13th cousin twice removed, both descendants of Lady Jane (Spencer) Cope.
Keanu Reeves is my 15th cousin, both descendants of Lady Jane (Spencer) Cope. Interesting, our descendant is both our 14th G/Grandmother, who also happens to be my 14th G/Grandfather's (Sir William Cope PC Cofferer of the Royal Household to King Henry Vll) wife. Surprising to find that Sir William is also Keanu Reeves 14th G/G.
Cher is my 14th cousin 3 times removed, both descendants of Sir James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton.
Courteney Bass Cox is my 14th cousin 9 times removed. Interesting, on Wikitree.com she is my 15th cousin 4 times removed, both descendants of Janet (Livingston) Livingston Lady Airth.

RESEARCH NOTES:
My g/grandfather Henry Daniel Woodward had an extremely difficult and diverse life. He was born after his father died, so, for a boy growing up without a father back then was hard. He was a man of the bush and started work at a very early age, Cedar cutting on the Clarence river.
This is a link from the Australian Stockman Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre about him..... https://ehive.com/collections/3492/objects/77546/henry-daniel-woodw....

This is where some of my ancestors/descendants lived in Hamilton, Scotland, including my 13th Great Grandfather James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Palace.

Here is some information on my ancestors/descendants from England, The Cope Family, which includes my 14th Great Grandfather, Sir William Cope PC, Cofferer of the Royal Household of King Henry Vll, https://www.wikialpha.org/wiki/House_of_Cope.

   https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/article/old-sir-john-spe.... This was an amazing find. My 14th Great Grandfather - William Cope (who owned Wormleighton Manor), who was married to Jane Spencer, sold Wormleighton Manor in 1506 to his wife's cousin, John Spencer of Snitterfield. This is also mentioned in BHO. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol5/pp218-224. 

John Spencer went onto do a complete overhaul of the manor house, and around this time,1506-1508, it is believed that John Spencer bought Althorp. He is also my 1st cousin 16 times removed.

Sir Anthony Cope (my 13th Great Grandfather) was granted lands by King Henry Vlll, which included Bruern Abbey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruern.
He was first Vice Chamberlain and then Principal Chamberlain to Catherine Parr Queen of England, who was one of King Henry Vlll wives. Catherine Parr happens to be my 4th cousin 15 times removed, both descendants of Ralph Neville KG. He was knighted by Edward Vl in 1547 and in 1548 he served as Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, England. This is a painting of him and his brother John, which apparently is on the wall in one of the cottages on the estate of Bruern Abbey in England.

Sir Anthony Cope - Please see heading above - "Media" for portrait.

Another great discovery was finding out about my 11th Great Granduncle, Sir Walter Cope. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cope.
In 1604/5 built a home that was known as Cope Castle or Holland House in the Royal Borough of Kensington. The estate presided over 500 acres and is known today as Holland Park in London. Apparently, in 1612 after the death of his eldest son Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, King James l spent the night at Cope Castle. One of Sir Walter's 1st cousins was Sir Dudley Carleton, the English Ambassador in Venice. According to FS Sir Dudley is my 1st cousin 13 times removed. We are both descendants of John Carleton of Brightwell Baldwin. Sir Walter died in 1614 and the estate was inherited by his daughter, Isobel Cope. Sir Walter Cope and Queen Elizabeth ll are second cousins 13 times removed. Both descendants of Lady Jane Spencer.

   http://www.polyolbion.org.uk/Hanwell/Family%20Tree.jpg. Entry of our ancestors/descendants, the Cope family of Hanwell.

   https://ia802609.us.archive.org/15/items/recordsoffamilyo00thoy/rec.... 

Edward Paston, born 1550, was the son of Sir Thomas Paston MP. I have found out that he is my 1st cousin 13 times removed, both descendants of William Paston (according to WT), and according to history, Edward was born on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. One of the country homes on the estate, named Appleton House. Funnily enough Edward was also Queen Elizabeth ll, 1st cousin 13 times removed. When Princess Maud, whose father was Edward Vll of England, married in 1896, Appleton House was a wedding present to her. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=77243&sek=77240.

However, according to our family tree on FamilySearch.org... Edward Paston is my 11th G/Granduncle. His father, Sir Thomas Paston is my 12th G/Grandfather. The Paston family are related to the Cope's of Hanwell. Sir Thomas' sister, Mary Paston married John Chaworth. They had a son Sir George Chaworth who was born in Wiverton Hall. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiverton_Hall. He married Anne (Paston) Cope. Their daughter, Elizabeth Chaworth married Sir William Cope 2nd BT of Hanwell. I have since found out that through our tree on FamilySearch.org Edward is my 11th G/Granduncle.

Some weeks back in Wikitree.com - g2g, there was a question on Charlemagne Carolingian, King of the Franks & Emperor of the Romans, to see if you were connected to him. He was a member of the Carolingian Dynasty of Central and Western Europe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne. Wikimedia Commons contributors, "File:Bust of Charlemagne.png," Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bust_of_Charle... (accessed November 6, 2023).
To my surprise our family is. Our family tree is related to him via, our connection to the Hamilton family of Scotland, and my 13th G/Grandfather - Sir James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, born in Scotland. The tree then descended, through his father, James Hamilton V of Cadzow. As it turns out "Charlemagne Carolingian" King of the Franks & Emperor of the Romans, is my 33rd G/Grandfather. This was an amazing find, so, now, our family tree dates back to 0748 in France, through our ancestors from Scotland, which initially, has descended from my great great grandfather, John Newlands, born 1838. I have been doing more research on our family tree regarding Charlemagne Carolingian. As it turns out, our ancestors/descendants of him, migrated to Scotland back in the year 1070.

Our French Roots:

Again, I will reiterate, our family tree never ceases to amaze me. Today, there was a post in G2G on Wikitree.com regarding, "If You Have French Roots". We actually do. The names of some our our ancestors and cousins are from the families of the:: Carolingian, Bourbon, Valois, de Orleans, Pierrepont, and it was amazing top find that the connections came from both sides of our ancestors, i.e., The Cope Family of England and The Hamilton Family of Scotland. Taken from my profile on Wikitree.com.

REGARDING 'Y-DNA' Chromosome: I have been onto one of my ancestors profiles which has links to DNA and the research into how it works regarding the "Y-DNA", and the mitochrondial. From what I have read and learnt, it is mostly carried by father/son however there is some mentioning regarding the female/s DNA/Chromosomes of it. I have discovered that via blood/dna I have a connection to my ancestors with the "Y-DNA" chromosome. I believe that it comes thru my 3rd G/Grandfather from England, and my 7th G/Grandfather from Scotland. Interesting enough this is on my mothers side of the family, her grandmother (Jessie Esther Ure (Newlands) Kidson) and my great grandmother .That is to say that her (Jessies) grandfather-Joseph Cope, born in Cheshire England, United KIngdom and her 4th g/grandfather-John Hamilton born in Hamilton Scotland, both have the "Y-DNA Chromosome. John Hamilton's 4th G/Grandfather happens to be Sir James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton. Please see both families - Direct Line of Ancestors/Descendants Family Trees that I have sourced and compiled on my profile and profiles of other immediate family members, on Wikitree.com

SOURCES:

https://www.familysearch.org/discovery/famousrelatives. In entry of famous relatives

Henry is listed in the Aust. Stockmans Hall of fame and Outback Heritage Centre Source.... https://ehive.com/collections/3492/objects/77546/henry-daniel-woodw.... This is a link to my g/grandfather, Henry Daniel Woodward.

https://wikialpha.org/wiki/House_of_Cope

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L1CV-VWY. In entry of James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, 13th Great grandfather.