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

[KatieC]

To answer the original question, the French part of my family tree I can trace back to 1615 in Saintonge, France.  The Eastern European part of my family 1594 in Rotenburg, Germany.  Both of these lines took me less than 3 months to trace (alot of people had already traced these lines, so I cant take full credit for it).  We have birth dates, places, christening/baptism locations and dates, marriage places and dates, death places and dates, burial locations, professions, children, etc...etc.

However, my Scottish line I cant trace farther than 1850 and it's becoming incredibly frustrating.  It's going on 2 years and I'm stumped.  Rumor has it they came from Ireland, but from where... I have no idea!

[Quinn]

For my family - 12 years and only 1790 for my father's father's side..  Then six months ago had a literal gold mine drop in my lap.  My paternal grandmother's line all the way back to 1435!

In my mother's family, for her father, only back to late 1700's.  For her father's mother, back to the early 1600's.  Her mother's mother, back to the 1500's.

But the greatest (and worst, because it is FABULOUS and it isn't mine!) is my husband's family.  His paternal line goes all the way back to the 1200's! Documented, recorded, and verified, for crying out loud.  Including tidbits on a huge number of the family, like occupation, personal notes, letters and documents with their signatures, books they had written, the whole nine yards!

Patty

[Lloydy]

But the greatest (and worst, because it is FABULOUS and it isn't mine!) is my husband's family. His paternal line goes all the way back to the 1200's! Documented, recorded, and verified, for crying out loud. Including tidbits on a huge number of the family, like occupation, personal notes, letters and documents with their signatures, books they had written, the whole nine yards!

Patty

I'm so jealous Patty   That sounds fantastic.  I am sure it will be years before I get back that far


Jan

[Quinn]

Jan -

I'm jealous too!!  You can go to google and type in pretty much ANY subject you want and then put Meigs at the end of it - such as Revolutionary War Meigs, or Civil War Meigs, or Bosnia Meigs.  Those are ALL his family!  All the counties, buildings, towns, old Army posts, airports, anything with the name on it has been named after someone in his family.

They are a direct line descendancy (whatever that means) and every Meigs in the world is related is some way to every other one, and all in America trace back to one man who came here in 1635 and lived in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Since our family book was published in 1935, they have taken the line back obviously much further! 

Disgusting, isn't it!!

Patty

[Cotswolder]

I have been researching various lines of my grandparents and have my paternal grandmother's family line back to 1570.

Strangely though, at present, I cannot get my maternal grandfather's line back before a possible 1862, and that only from his marriage certificate in 1890 saying he was 28 at the time he married.

[JillJ]

My own research seems to be firmly stuck against brick walls whichever way I turn, mostly in the mid 1700's, but my cousin has researched my paternal line back to the 1400's and a relative of my husband's has taken that line back to 1314 - all of which helps to make my tree sprout numerous twigs and branches!

Jill

[1000xlch]

7 years to go back in time and one line back to 1400 in Cambridgeshire (with help from Rootschat of course) and Scottish lot to 1540's  Lots of brick walls in between of course but collecting all twigs and branches as it helps to go back!

John Rowley

[wheeldon]

Gone back to 1760 with my English relies - which took aprox 2 years-I'm nowhere with my Irish side - that will be ongoing probably for the next fifty years - if I live that long!

[mc8]

I started this summer and have got back to 1790, but now I need a different set of skills to go back further. Its interesting that you all seem to be so pleased to find bits of your tree already researched. My father in law found out I was researching family history and some time later presented me with his tree back to 1730 as researched by his mormon rellies. I was so cross!