At the end of my research

[Erato]

"I also like looking at the neighbours"

I also sometime take a quick look at neighbors, colleagues, adversaries and other such figures, not because they are part of my family tree, but because they are part of an ancestor's social environment.  So curiosity leads me to wonder why gg-uncle James might have split up with his law partner, for example.

[Freespirit1]

I agree with all the comments that have been posted here.  The journey never comes to an end. After much soul searching I purchased a subscription to a newspaper site as my local library doesn't subscribe (but many do).  It has been one of the most fascinating and enlightening things I have done in my family research.  I have read about family incidents I would never have known about otherwise, good and bad, and it has given me a much deeper understanding of, and respect for, my ancestors.   Why not try your local library to see if they have a newspaper library subscription?

Similarly, I have learned a lot from reading wills.  My ancestors were all in fairly humble occupations but many of them left wills.  I was surprised to find, for example, that a 6 x g grandfather born in the 1740s who left home and started from scratch in a neighbouring county as a blacksmith had left not only a thriving business but also a number of substantial properties in the same village (which I have since visited).  Wills can also identify family members and clarify relationships.

Many county records offices also have online catalogues.  These can contain a vast array of documents including bastardy records, property transactions, criminal convictions and many, many more categories.  It is well worth a search for some of your family members.

Once you've been bitten by the family history bug there's no going back, you just have to keep finding out more.

[missmolly]

Hi Reece
I have been doing Family History for 15 years or more and my tree is wider than it's long, I am not interested in seeing how far back I can get as I am nosy too and soon get sidetracked. I am lucky that I live in an area which has 3 Local Archives within a short distance from where I live so I can spend hours looking at Archives, microfilms and not forgetting all those books on Local History, it's surprising how much there is in printed form as well as the internet.

I recently looked at some old School records and some of the comments wouldn't go down well today.
I found one of my ancestors reason for not attending school just said DEAD. Another reason I saw for 1 boy (not one of my ancestors) TO DIRTY TO SIT WITH ANYONE

My search at the moment thanks to FindMyPast is looking for Family members in India so it is never ending.

So there is always something new to find

Mo

[LFS]

I agree with what everyone has been saying - I'm doing both my family and my husband's - and wish I'd been better at record keeping over the years.  And have probably been working away for about 30 years - have mostly got back to around 1800, though back further with my own name.  I thought i'd come to a halt with my husband's Wiltshire clan - and suddenly I realised I was missing a child - not only did I find her but her grandparents as well, who she was staying with.  It has really opened things out - and yes I've come to a halt again.  But sooner or later you have a good idea and follow it, and make a hole in the brick wall - and it's brilliant when you do. 

Regards  Derby Girl