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Thank you for your answers, aghadowey and Stanwix England. As you may have guessed, I'm not a beginner, but I've not tried RootsChat for years and I reckoned this is the kind of question that would fit well on a Beginners board.

Where your ancestors and their relatives lived in the same small area for generations, there's the possibility of creating a story around, not just your direct ancestors, but their cousins and other people living round about, too. And in some cases (in mine for instance, Ramsbury in north-eastern Wiltshire) you might find a published local history of the area that will set your own particular story in context.

Hello Steph

Can you please post something more ...

1. In what way(s) do you think your ancestry may be related to mine?

2. Which of the Rushens do you think could be your own ancestor? I have a fair number of Rushen relatives, some still living. Thomas Rushen b.1748 and his wife Mary Plumb appear to have had around ten children. As yet I have only followed the descendants of his daughter (my third great grandmother) Amelia. But I would be happy to pursue other lines - especially if it could turn out that you and I are related.

By all means, email me if you like at philipt[AT]blueyonder.co.uk or send me a Facebook message.

regards - Philip Talmage

Aha! And is a Personal Message the same thing as a Private Message?

Sorry, Bob.

I just don't see "you have xxx messages, yy are new".

Has the site changed since you posted? And, what am I to do, to see Private Messages?

One of my grandmothers came from Lambourn. I have got about as far as I can, tracing ancestors using online resources and disks from the Berkshire Family History Society; maybe a relative or someone who still has local connections can extend the record? Here goes with what (I think) I know:

My grandmother christened Winifred Kate Harris was born on 7 July 1894, one of the younger daughters of a large family. After marriage, she lived in Ramsbury. I have traced her family line back as far as the following individuals (if I have made no mistakes):

Joseph Harris (her paternal grandfather) was born in Farnborough about 1820. His parents might possibly have been Thomas Harris and Lucy Fisher, who married in Farnborough on 10 October 1810.

Joseph married Sarah Cox in Lambourn on 13 November 1842. The Cox family was long established in the village, and the earliest direct ancestor that I have found is Thomas Cox christened 11 July 1698 (parents given as John and Mary). He married Susannah Cook in Uffington on 8 November 1735.

Sarah Cox’s other ancestors include

Hannah Hunt, who married Thomas Cox’s son John in Lambourn on 2 December 1750.

Mary Blacknell, who married John and Hannah’s son Michael on 17 October 1780.

Eliza Riding, born in 1786 to Ann Riding, daughter of William and Frances Riding.

Winifred’s maternal grandfather was William Bowsher (christened William Honey in Lambourn on 20 March 1831). The Bowshers were another long-established Lambourn family. The earliest of his direct ancestors I have found are:

Robert Bowsher born in 1733 to Roger and Mary, in Lambourn Woodlands.

Sarah Middleton, wife of Robert’s son Thomas.

Robert Honey who married Sarah Pariss in Lambourn on 28 April 1766.

Martha Steptoe, christened 23 June 1776, parents John and Elizabeth.

For Winifred’s maternal grandmother Anne Hinder, the earliest are:

Jacob Hinder, who I’m told ran the Malt Shovel pub in Upper Lambourn; his father was possibly named Abraham. On 10 October 1828, in Lambourn, Jacob married Sarah Taylor, presumably the same person who was baptised at St Michael’s on 14 November 1790, mother’s name also Sarah but with no father recorded.

Any guidance /suggestions will be gratefully accepted!

Thank you - Philip Talmage