One of our participants in the Vines DNA project discovered last year that he had the Y chromosome DNA signature of the Nth Wiltshire, England family of farmers dating from the mid 1600s. He is descended from a Charles Vine who as a 17 year old joined the Marines in 1806, but no connection has yet been proved by genealogical documentation.

His news was an exciting find.

 I came across a family history gold nugget just recently - a son of Chas the Marine had his biography published by the International Bryozoology Association - and only in 2002.   George Robert Vine 1825-1893, Sheffield based stay maker and amateur naturalist who specialised in the study of fossil bryozoans and Coal measure plants.   It said he was principally remembered today as the author of the Order Cryptostomata. 

 Apparently, although from the 'working classes' he was funded to some extent by such organisations as the Royal Geological Society, British Association etc, but because of his lowly background, it is intimated that he was never asked to become a member of these august bodies.   Well, that's life for the lower orders!   On the other hand, it appears he was a staunch republican, a strict Methodist and a Sunday School teacher (looks like that's where he got his early learning as a boy in Portsea) fought for workers' rights in the 1840s, (Chartist Movement), journalist, poet, taught himself Greek and Latin, and gave lectures on Martin Luther - quite a guy!

Bryozoa are tiny aquatic organisms sometimes called "moss animals". They live in colonies and are often found in coral environments, sometimes confused with seaweeds. Some live on underwater surfaces such as rocks, shells, piles and the bottom of ships. They are found in fossilised form in coal and limestone. 

George Robert Vine was in on the ground floor of the science of Geology, a pioneer of his day. This was a strange pastime for a stay maker but from his other activities he was obviously a thinking man.