 As the title suggests, it traces the family name from its early beginnings and purports ″the county of Nottingham may justly be considered as the fatherland of Smiths, who have always abounded within its borders″.In 1866 Lord Brownlow tried to enclose Berkhamsted Common with 5' steel fences built by Woods of Berkhamsted and therefore, claim it as part of his estate.Augustus Smith MP brought out a gang of navvies on a specially chartered train to roll up the fence and leave it within sight of Brownlow's house, demonstrating his will to protect Berkhamsted Common for the people of Berkhamsted.