How far will records take me??

[Brant81uk]

I would like to try and find my 4th Gt Grandfather George Brant's parents but have no idea where to start? Would the records office be the only possible source of information or would I be able to find some info online? He was born in 1764 White Ladies Aston Worcestershire.

Tyrone

[linell]

Hi Tyrone, the records run out with all of us when the information dries up.  Some of my lines end around 1800 other's I have traced back to 1600.  I am not sure what you can buy on line for White Ladies, but Worcester Record Office would have any available Parish Records plus Hearth Taxes, Poor Law Settlement Records, Marriage Bonds, Land Tax etc etc.  Would definitely be worth asking them what they hold on White Ladies.  HTH from Linell.

[Yegvard]

Hi Tyrone,

In addition to what Linell has said,  there's also the Worcestershire Marriage Index (1660 - 1837) and the Worcestershire Burial Index, both by BMSGH.  You'll need wills as well, for additional support.  And then there are the contents of the Parish Chest, of which the registers are only a part.  Military records may also help.  Estate records and court, both manorial and Petty/Quarter sessions, may give additional knowledge.

Pre Cromwell's Registers you'll be on wills and land records, however, the earlier you get back the more Latin you'll need and luck.

The Church of the Latter Day Saints - LDS - or Mormons have done most of the filming of registers.  Consequently the register films may be hired from one of their Family History Centres, which all over the world.  Too find your nearest try http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp

You'll have to balance the costs of a visit to Worcester and getting local advice and guidance against  travel to a History Centre.  The Marriage Index is only available to members of BMSGH at it's own library in Birmingham, to the public at Worcester Record Office and postally for a small fee via http://www.bmsgh.org/search/Wo_marr_index.

The National Archives sometimes has useful info http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

My lot were only yeomen but we've got back to 1300.  However, 1500 to 1600 is more usual.  And some people haven't left the 20th century yet!

Mike

[clayton bradley]

 I followed a family called Winnett (Winniatt, Whynott etc) back from Worcester to Droitwich and got stuck around the Civil War when the parish records seemed to have gaps, but when I went back before the Civil War, the same family seemed to be there. I tried writing to the archivist at the Record Office to see if there were any estate records to plug the gaps, but she said there were none, I suppose because of the Civil War. So I am either back to a Thomas Winnett who married in 1678, so born probably in the 1650s or if we jump the gap, to John Winnett who had a son Thomas baptized in 1601. I haven't found any relevant wills, so am stymied. Mind you the Price and Davis families are much more difficult, claytonbradley

[coombs]

Hi

Yes some lines I have only got back to 1800 whereas others I have got back much further such as 1650.

You could try the IGI website for a possible baptism or have you already done this?

Ben

[andrewwinnett]

This is a message for claytonbradley. I'd be very interested to get in touch about the Worcestershire Winnetts.

Andrew Winnett
London