A long way back

[Kevlar]

I have a been surfing around different people family tree websites and it is amazing how far some people have gone back.
I have found dates as far back as 1065 an 0980.  These are two that i found, but there are loads of sites with very impressive dates. Is it really possible to have a genuine date like this.

Has anyone found an earier date than this?

I have only managed 1721.

kev

[bevbee]

I'm always very suspicious when someone tells me they've gone back that far. Someone told me quite recently that he had gone back to 1430, but when I asked him further, he hadn't actually verified anything; he seems to have just found names and claimed them! 

[Sylviaann]

I have one line back to 1300.  It was in Jersey, Channel Islands where paperwork is good even though it is in French.  I didn't do it as you have to live there but it is all in a book produced by a member of the family who actually lives on the Island. He actually gives the proof in the book "The de Gruchy's of Jersey"

I have done one line back to 1670 and possibly 100 years before.  I did this by looking at a film of the Parish register and working out the jigsaw puzzle.  1670 was quite easy in that area.

With my fathers family I am stuck in 1812.

I would not trust any tree found on the net. A lot of them are guesses.   I take notes and check out the details if possible.

Sylviaann

[Mum44]

It really does seem to depend a lot on the area.  I have been able to verifiy some data back to 1700 - as Sylviaan says it's not too difficult in some areas.  In others early 1800's and you're stumped!

[stoney]

We have a definite link back to 1651 (all documented through parish registers etc.), and a few lines back to the early and middle 1700's.

I think it's exceptional to get back in to the 1500's and before that - it seems to me only persons of "influence" or wealth would be significantly recorded, and my lot were mainly cattle rustlers and sheep thieves (Border Reivers) so no chance for them ! (except perhaps in the county assize records!) 

[Lydart]

If you are lucky enough to find a 'gateway' ancestor, i.e. one who had links in some way with aristocracy, then you are able to whizz right back ...

Did you see the Matthew Pinsent WDYTYA programme ?  His tree went back to Adam and Eve, and even God !! 

I've got a friend who suddenly got the link she had hoped for ... one of her ancestors had been a naughty girl with the Lord of the Manor, produced a child ... and thus the blood line with aristocracy was established !

[drifter]

Did you see the Matthew Pinsent WDYTYA programme ?  His tree went back to Adam and Eve, and even God !! 

Do i take it then that i must be related to Mathew Pinsent too!

Keeeeep searching
Drifter

[Lydart]

(Shhh ... he's a RootsChat member !)

[perth tiger]

there's nothing better  when your bored than looking at some of the tree's on ancestry and having a real good laugh.
there are several trees that have one section of my family in. the only thing wrong is they have a son called william born 4 years after another william that has somehow joined in to the family.the first william didn't die for 70 years and the second didnt appear on any census.

perth