My mother has done a great deal of research into one side of our family inparticular.  She's traced them as far back as the 11th Century when they came across with Willliam The Conqueror and settled at a place called 'Hole In The Wood' near Bolton.  This place is now known as Hall I' Th' Wood and I have a lot of  family down there, unknown to me.  Just so happens the surname 'Bolton' is synonymous in the family. 

She also has the help of family living in The States who are Mormons (I think) and travel the world collecting information from censuses, local parishes etc all in the name of Genealogy...