End of the line?

[jettejjane]

Having been researching on and off for about 4 years I have done well for a novice. Started going back from Dad after he died and I inherited family docs. I can get back to gt x3 grandfather born 1768 with documented proof. I can go back through direct male line 4 more generations to a marriage in 1656. This was difficult because sometime there were 3 possible same names in same area in the frame but as sure as I can be I took right road!! The further back I try to go the more difficult it is, especially with lack of parish records!

I seem to have exhausted all avenues, how do people manage to get back even further? I suppose it helps if the family are nobility, far as I know mine are not!  Shame WDYTYA don't do programme for normal people. I have a 3 times murderer 1882 USA and interesting stuff In UK.

As I work full time and weekends are busy I cannot visit records offices or parishes. This is only a part time hobby but if I had more time it could well be different. Have had so much help from this site, use ancestry pay as i go and belong to SFHG.

I am going to see dad's baby (84!) Brother we are only2 in immediate family interested. Sadly his sight is bad. I am going to briefly type out finds in large font to leave with him and will talk him through it . was wondering if it would be easier to understand if I started with dad and went back. what do you think.

Sorry to go on, look forward to any comments.

Jane

[*Sandra*]

Hi Jane,

You are doing a terrific job with your family history, a work in progress because there is always some new documents that come out on line helping to put flesh on the bones.
Sure the large font will help you when trying to explain what you have found - it might even jog his memory.
Your not falling into the trap of copying research of others which can send you up the garden path.
At least you know what you have found is all your own work and verified.

There was a thread "Calling Fellow Young genealogists" a few months ago - could be worth a read.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=687181.0

Sandra

[Craclyn]

May also be worth using time with your Dadīs baby brother to find out more about their female ancestors while you have the opportunity. You will then have a good head start if you want to go on and research all ancestral lines while you wait for new breakthroughs on the paternal line.

[sharonmx5]

I found lack of existing Parish Registers to be a real brick wall but then I found a Will on Ancestry and have got back another 150 years using Wills.  Your local Record Office may well have put their catalogue online so you can search for Wills and generally for documents on their website and then ask for copies if you can't get there.  I would recommend searching the catalogues of the surrounding counties' Record Offices also as I have found several Wills out of county from before we got our own Bishop.  Also don't forget the National Archives.

Simply searching on Google for individuals' names and the villages where they lived has also come up trumps for me. 

Good luck .

[jettejjane]

Hi guys, 

Sandra have read the thread (the ironing is calling but it can wait!). It was very interesting. I was quite old when  I started 58! So I am 62 now!  One of my boys is mildly interested, but we talk a lot about the family to both boys especially their grandad of whom they are both immensely proud. Quite a prominent figure in Arundel.  Uncle has many memories and loves recalling them. I agree it is never good to take info from other trees. Even my 3rd cousin in Canada  has quite a lot wrong! And is sometimes loath to believe me when I tell her, even though I have proof!

Craclyn, yes I have also been researching dad's mother family thanks to uncle. Also done well. He is 10 years younger than dad and was real mummies boy, in a nice way. I also remember a lot about nana' s 5 sisters as most stayed around here. And grandad' s brothers and sisters.
 
Am also doing mum's line, father and mother, not so easy she was Irish. But getting there slowly. So I have several irons (talking of irons, must go and do ironing!) in fire for when I hit the brickwalls.

What has made it easier is that both Dad's male and females lines came from and (many)remained in West Sussex not straying far from Arundel and Littlehampton. I am still here!!!

Thanks for replies I appreciate your comments.

Jane

[jettejjane]

Sharon thanks. How far back could I get with wills. Earliest I have which was with dad's family docs is great grandmother 1917. Tried on ancestry few weeks ago when it was free for gt x2 grandfather who died 1852 no luck. I feel he would have made a Will because he did quite well as Tailor.

I will (no pun intended) try your suggestions but maybe because the earlier ancestors only labourers/farm workers they didn't make wills.

I am forever googling names etc but keep on trying.

Had luck with USA side got probate details of Gtx 3 who died in 1833 and his son who died in 1831.

Talking if wills and probate, is it possible to get details for someone who died in June this year? This is hubby's dad.All i will say is bit of falling out with sister ages before his death, but she looked after him at end and had power if attorney, he had Alzheimer's we just a bit suspicious! Never been informed about any Will seems strange he would forget first son.

Jane

[sharonmx5]

Hi Jane

Theoretically it is possible to get back to the 15th century and even beyond with Wills, but one has to be lucky I think.  The oldest Will I have was written in 1553 and proved in 1556.  I think it definitely helps if they had a bit of money, but the Will I have from 1553 was the Will of a yeoman, not a gentleman.  More general searches on the surname can help.  The Will that broke down my 'wall' appeared on the face of it to have nothing to do with the line I was following. Keep looking around for clues would be the best advice I can give on this, you never know what will come up.

As for your last query, contact your local Probate Registry Office to see if Probate (or Administration, if there was no Will) has yet been granted.  If it has then you can get a copy of the Grant of Probate and see what's happening.  If not, your husband should approach his sister, in my opinion, to see what the present position is.  His father would not be able to make a Will if his Alzheimers had affected his capacity, but of course he may have made one before things got to that stage.

Sharon

[mazi]

I will try to give a short answer to your question "is it possible to get details ---june this year.

If your husbands dad left a will then it will name an executor who has to carry out its instructions.

if there is no will then someone will have to apply for administration, to get this whoever is applying must have the consent of all those entitled to a share,  that is, if your husbands sister applies he must sign his agreement on the application.

If the will is homemade and dated after you think he was badly affected by alzheimers then if there is a large estate you may need a solicitor, but two months is a bit  early to go down that path.

this is based on my own experience, not expert advice 

mike

[Ruskie]

Jane, when you see Uncle you may like to take along a tree drawn up in a traditional form. It is often easier to understand relationships if they are displayed visually in this way. It is also easy to see where there are any gaps that need filling.

You can add as much detail as you like under the names - such as date of birth, place of birth, occupation plus any other interesting facts you have discovered in your research.

If you don't want to draw up your own, there are many templates online which you can print off and fill in, perhaps even enlarging them to a size Uncle can read - you can join several together to form one huge tree.

Good luck.