« Reply #15 on: Saturday 25 July 15 20:43 BST (UK) »
... wonder how reliable a family tree it is possible to construct from parish registers
I think a lot of that depends on whether they were all from one area and stayed there. And how good the records are. Although not confirmed by any other sources I managed to get 4 generations back on one branch purely from parish records, finding number of children born to a couple, then a marriage a year or so before the first baptism etc. I was surprised at the time but it looks really good and I've not found any other likely partners in the area; I'm sure it would be a lot more difficult if they moved around
CARDIFF:Lord,Griffiths,Barry,Cope,Mahoney ~ PEMBROKESHIRE:Griffiths,Rees,Owen,Thomas ~ ESSEX:Lord,Foreman,Hatch ~ SOMERSET:Lord,Cox,Hockey,Linham,Bryant ~ STAFFORDSHIRE:Cope,Elks,Hackney,Gallimore,Davenport ~ SUFFOLK:Lord,Lockwood,Hatch,Rix,Foreman ~ IRELAND:Barry,Meany,Cummins,Grogan ~
PONTYPRIDD:Leigh,Brooks,Adams,Davies,Thomas ~ KENT:Leigh ~ CHESHIRE:Adams,Tudor,Illidge ~ DENBIGHSHIRE:Edwards,Bolas ~BRECON:Leigh,Thomas,Davies ~SOMERSET:Adams,Keitch,Bridge ~ABERGAVENNY:Minton ~ MERTHYR:.....