Am I really related to William the Conqueror??

[JanPennington]

Hi

I have been researching my family history for about a year and view threads here about problems people are having finding records in the 1600's with mixed feelings, incredulity that they have got that far back, envy that they have found so many generations, inspiration to keep going, but today I have beaten them all. 

In one simple search for the details about Richard, the half-brother of my illegitimate Great-great-grand-mother I found that Richard had a family tree online and when clicked I was taken to a tree with people from the FIFTH CENTURY.  I wandered around the tree for awhile but I couldn't find Richard but I did find William the Conqueror.

How tempting to add this to my family tree.
But what about the errors I have found on other trees - Ann who apparently died in 1860 but appeared on the census in 1861

I think I'll go back to searching person by person and record by record and double checking everything some else has found or put online.

Jan

[Rosinish]

Jan,

That's why I call it 'Fancestry'....most are all fantasy & for FindMyPast, I call it 'Blind my Past' as the transcriptions of some are a joke i.e. not findable to novices who don't know about mis-transcriptions/variants etc

Annie

[youngtug]

5th century!!! Is that according to Bede, or maybe Roman documents that they have "researched"

[JanPennington]

I'm not sure.  The names looked Scandinavian - perhaps the Vikings had a civil registration 14 centuries ahead on Britain.  Or possibly Dr Who went back in time to check details.

Jan

[Rosinish]

Jan,

Don't you find it amazing where/how people find these things?

I think if I really was related to such a prominent person, with 'my' tree online, I sure as heck would be keen to show all the documentation to prove it, wouldn't you or anyone else for that matter 

Annie

[JanPennington]

Yes I agree.

I know once you can prove a link to the Royal Family or a Lord then it is possible to access some additional information as they do on WDYTYA, but there must be limits even for the Royal family in tracking back to before written records

Of course in the bible there are long lists of who begat who but I wouldn't claim any relationship to biblical people.

Jan

[Rosinish]

Let's just say...no point in upsetting peoples dreams/fantasies 

Lots of Islands, not come across 'Fantasy Island' (yet) 

Annie

[JanPennington]

Yes, after reading other members comments about trying to suggest that trees online might be inaccurate I don't think I'll try to correct this tree, especially as I wouldn't be able to prove that the ancestors from 5th century are wrong.

I'll leave them to their dreams and return to my farm labourers, servants and the odd soldier fighting at Crimea  and World Wars 1 and 2.

Jan

[Rosinish]

Jan,

I'd be tempted to get in touch to ask for a copy of the 'paper trail' as I'm interested where I fit in there 

Annie