whats the earliest date

[Inicky]

whats the earliest date a rootschatter has got to in there search

 

[kerryb]

I have checked out parish registers back to the beginning ie early 1500s for my Pilbeam family in Sussex.  Trouble is its all a bit sketchy and I came to a standstill, have deaths but no births and some family members that don't quite fit.  But I did follow the line all the way back because they lived very close to where they started all the way through from my grandfather.

Kerry

[Inicky]

wow i thought 1744 was good but 1500 is amazing 

[kerryb]

If only some of my other lines were as forthcoming 

Kerry

[coombs]

Hi

I have gone back to c1600 in Kent, 1502 in Sussex and 1574 in Suffolk. I must admit that the Suffolk line is also what someone else did though. The first two I did all by myself.

Also on my own I have gone back to c1664 on my paternal line. In London I have traced my Huguenot ancestors back to the 1600s in France.

Ben

[Suttonrog]

I have a will of 1557 that mentions cousins whose names are known. As they were old enough to receive bequests that puts their births back to 1530ish with a common ancestor about 1500. It can be done.

Rog

[coombs]

Hi

If you descend from nobility or royalty then the chances are that you can go back to the 1100s or even earlier. Before 1500 you have to rely on wills, court rolls, land taxes and parish records to try and trace working or middle calss ancestors.

Ben

[Just Kia]

The earliest know birth year I have so far is my 13xG grandfather Richard Prestwich b1492.
I expect, if I went out and looked at Parish Registers, I could take that particular line even further back.

[nessy]

Wow !!  some of those dates are early.  I thought I was going well with my family in Cheshire got back to 1720 but the brick wall has appeared.
Nessy