Hi Ann
The golden rule is always to start with yourself and then
Go Forward - adding
Partner or Partners
Children
Grand Children
Great Grandchildren
Then comes the detective work
Go Backwards - adding
Parents of Yourself & Partners (4)
Grand Parents of Yourself & Partners (

Grt. Grand Parents of above (16)
Grt. Grt. Grandparents of above (32)
Etc, etc.
If you can get back 20 Generations (approx 600 years) then you will have 1,048, 576 ancestors
Use photographs (photocopies) on a piece of paper - if no photograph, draw a box and put name / names in the box together with dates.
Connect partners by a double line, children by a single line from the female partner. Any relationship you are unsure of - its a dotted line
The above is best way to strat with items that can be found in most peoples photo albums, sideboard draw, or tin in cupboard plus old bith, marriage and death certificates handed down from grandma / grandad etc.
Hope that has been of some help
Chris in 1066LandBelieve it or not - but there are only 28 people with the surname Lifely on the 1891 census on line - they all appear to be from Somerset or Wiltshire