More ancestors - is it worth it?

[suttontrust]

I'm researching a friend's family history and find it as absorbing as doing my own.  However, on one line we've got back to the early 18th century in Wiltshire, and I'm wondering whether to pay researchers to try to get another generation or two back, or to stop there.  After all, it's just adding names and dates without any knowledge of who they were as people.  Do others want to get back as far as possible or at some point call it quits?

[Welsh Jen]

I think you may find the history of these people more interesting. It depends what you are 'after' in this hobby (ney! obsession!) 

I like to ' fill out ' the bones on these individuals. Finding out about the difficulties they faced, the conditions they lived in the places they frequented the social community they surrounded themselves by, the things they found important at that time.

Names and dates are great & look good on paper but the stuff that fills in all the details in between I find much more rewarding, even if I am stuck on a particular generation It does not matter (even if it is enfuriating!)
I get great satisfaction from knowing them better in some sort of strange way!   

[suttontrust]

I agree - and that's why I wonder whether it's better to focus on those ancestors whose lives one can fill out.  19th century social history is a particular field of study for me, and one can use census data and other sources to bring people alive.  Once you get back to pre-enclosures rural life there's very little filling in you can do.  Nonetheless it is, as you say, an obsession and I suspect I will go on adding ancestors wherever I can.

[Welsh Jen]

Certainly! if one can find another ancestor adding them on the tree is a bonus!

You also seem to be of the same frame of mind as me The social side of things give greater insight into the history of these people and they then become more than just a name and a date.

I also agree the further back you go the less fulfilling the details will be, that aspect is an unfortunate one but if someone has the 'need' for detail in their family history they will go to great lengths to see if there is anything more documented on their long gone ancestors.

My Taylor line in particular is very well documented but the further back the line has gone the less interested I am as I only have the odd reference to a name (which could be a Christian or Surname) the only good thing which lifted my spirits is that the line is an illegitimate one and all the children took the name of the mother 

My mother is so glad she was born a Taylor and not a Husofut! 

[trish251]

My mother is so glad she was born a Taylor and not a Husofut! 

Slightly off topic, but I loved this statement. Being of a generation who always took their husband's name on marriage, I hate it when I am referred to as Ms  rather than Mrs - I like it to be known that the name I use is not the one I was born with!

Back on topic, I doubt I would ever pay a researcher if the only thing I felt they could find would be the names of ancestors - if there was a likelihood of additional information, I would probably consider it.  I also find much of the enjoyment is in doing one's own research, so have only used researchers to check specific issues where it is impossible for me to access the required records (but I have found out that such records exist).

Trish

[Sylviaann]

There is a wealth of information out there about our early ancestors.  I have copies of early wills (The reign of Charles II)  They make wonderful reading.

Personally I got as far back as I could and then looked for information about their lives.  My next project is to find out which side my ancestors are likely to have supported in the Civil war. 

I did not pay anyone but looked at the films of the records in the LDS family history centre.  Not as good as looking at the originals but next best thing.  I did pay for the wills look up but that was before the net.

It's just a problem knowing which line to follow first.

Sylviaann

[Nick Carver]

I'd not consider paying a researcher if there was the slightest chance of my being able to find the information for myself. I'd also recommend not being too hung up on 'knowing' the individuals. With the late 18th century, most of us are going to be looking at anything between the 6th and 9th generation before us and (before even contemplaiting siblings) this gives us over 1000 ancestors (in the 9th generation). That is a lot of people to get to know. It may well be that you find out something really seminal from an even earlier generation and if you had taken a dogmatic stance on not going back any further until you were satisfied you knew the people, that could well be missed. It may be ages before you can get to Wiltshire to do some research - I have got enough trips 'planned' to last me 10 years, but I hope to work my way gradually down the list. Happy hunting

[casalguidi]

I think the good thing about research in the earlier 1800s and beyond is that it "forces" you to explore other avenues  ie. settlement records, parish poor records (those that received relief and those that paid taxes), freemen rolls, apprenticeships, wills etc..

One branch of our family were really quite poor throughout the 1800s yet when we get back to the early 1700s they were property owners, left wills and one direct ancestor a HM Customs Officer so you never know ............ we were certainly surprised!

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[legs11]

hi suttontrust,

hope you had a merry xmas and hope you have a good new year as well.

now I originally was looking for my hubby's grandmother's family as his father didn't know much about them, as she hardly talked about them.

since starting, I have found out that she was one of 19 children, and 2 of her sisters died at a very early age. I have found 9 of them so I am still looking and their name is a common one, making it even harder.

I looked at this as a challenge for me and I have found relatives dating back to the late 1600's but haven't been able to go any further. I live in australia and am on a pension so looking for records is a bit harder for me and have to rely on the good of others to do the leg work for me.

you never know if you research back far enough you might find that you are related to royalty , then again you could be related to Jack the ripper.

well that's my opinion for what it's worth.

legs11