How many generations?

[nutkin]

I am not sure it is length but depth of information that is important.  I love to get a longer tree and I will brag that I have been able to confirm 13 generations but a love to know details about their lives.

Messingham, Lincolnshire-  William Nixon born 1660- 8x's great grandfather

Searby cum Owmby, Lincolnshire- Joseph Bowers born 1662 - 8x's great grandfather

[Adi1962]

My best is 12 Gens, back to 1660 in Sussex.

Have 5 Gens that link into the Bushrod clan in Dorset

All my other lines are brickwalled around 4 or 5 Gens in Kent.

Adrian

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi there

Nutkin is correct - it is not how far you can go back (that totally bores genealogists) it is the quality of the information - How much flesh have you put on the bones of your ancestors to turn them from names and dates into real people?

Anyone who claims to go back further than the start of Parish Registers in 1538 for the earliest or 1558 for most of them - is obviously pulling your leg - unless they were Gentry of course.

Chris in 1066Land

[JillJ]

Were you allowed to go twice Bob?   If so, can I do likewise?

On my own down the Jowett line, 8 generations.

By my own efforts over two years in proving a connection I just knew was there - 22 generations of Sayer, but I didn't do the work for that one!

Jill

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Jill,

No you're only allowed one go !  And, which one did you go for ??

[JillJ]

Hi Bob,

I didn't actually go for either until I got your reply!   Now I've done the honest thing and I'm up there with the majority!

Best wishes.

Jill

[ryan]

Hey all!!
I and my Second-Cousin-Twice-Removed named Leonard Kidd have successfuly traced our Fereday ancestors back 12 generations to my Great (x10) Grandparents Thomas Fereday (Ferydye) and Rosa Dixon, both born about 1600 in Dudley, Worcestershire.



My Family Tree software 'Family Tree Legends' creates a report in a matter of seconds calculating my kinship with the majority of people in my tree!!

[Amy K]

Anyone who claims to go back further than the start of Parish Registers in 1538 for the earliest or 1558 for most of them - is obviously pulling your leg - unless they were Gentry of course.

Chris in 1066Land

Hi Chris,

I managed to get to the late 1400's using various family wills.

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Amy

Yes, my apologies

It is possible through information written in a will to take your ancestors back 2 or more generations with the Testator leaving goods to children, grandchildren, etc, and by listing land / property that he/she had inherited.

Slight oversight on that - slap hand time

Chris in 1066Land