How far back into the dim mists of time.....

[Family Guy]

I have been wondering how far it is possible to go back in time researching family history, so my questions is simply this.......

How far back have you manged to go back and how long did it take you to get there?

Family Guy 

[apanderson]

Two years - 1720

(Although that's only my maternal grandmother's line and the family never moved any more than a couple of miles from the one district)

Anne

[Bryan.]

Hi

1615 in 2.5 years, with a lot of help from other good people.

 

Bryan

[Emjaybee]

Unbelieveable I know but -

Three weeks two visits to Records Office and back to 1762.

My lot did not move from the village and were in the same house one after the other for 70yrs.

Now the down side - 10yrs finding the stories, Assize witnesses, lost Aunties etc. So regardless of where you start from there is still an enormous mountain (or should that be tree) waiting to be climbed.

Mike

[Jaycon]

1818 and 18 months to get there with the help of lots of very kind people! This is only my paternal line. Searching in Ireland is a lot more difficult than in Scotland!

Janice

[Ticker]

1607 in 20 years.  If only my 8 x great grandfather Thomas Beane had been born 8 years earlier I could have said 1599 which would have been more impressive! 

My main interest (TYMON) I have only got back to 1790 in that same 20 years I'm sad to say!

Ticker

[Boongie Pam]

Ticker, you don't look old enough.  When did you start age 5? 

~1750 was reached in 1.5 years on my Cumberland branch.  This is thanks to my ancestors living a very long time and writing wills.

~ 1744 in the same time frame thanks to the very full big gravestones in Scotland.

I've been travelling sideways in the last year just for something to do.

P


 

[Family Guy]

I must say that there are some impressive dates here, which I am hoping to get to, but one more question if I may, have you manged to find out who each member of the family was, not just there name but what they did etc and if so where do you find all of the info?

Only about six months into mine

Family Guy 

[Boongie Pam]

There are many personal sources and some not personal.

For specifics on your family try, census, wills, quarter sessions, newspapers, the original parish records, land registries, sasines (in Scotland), graves, company archives.  Leave no stone unturned.

I'm sure there are many more.

While you are searching for these in archives, libraries or online look for possible places your miner or mason could of worked.  Read up on local mines or quarries that gives a flavour and is just an example of enriching the skeleton.

For your Ag Labs, have a look at historic land use sources.  What was the local farming hops, arable, cattle?

Many local libraries will have local interest books or local FHS may sell little "Through the Camera" booklets which can be bought on line.

A good idea is to find a library in the nearest large town they will generally have an online catelogue you can search this gives you the info to may be order it from your local library.

Just a few thoughts.

Pam