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Dear All,
I have been tracing my family tree for a year and did quite well. I am interested in going as far back directly from me as I can, which has taken me to my Great (x8) grandfather John Hales 1641.
I got to this stage two years ago and haven't been able to go back any further or get any more information.
Any advice on which search methods I should use to try and get further?
Thanks
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I wish I could get back that far.....lol!
Parish registers in County Records Offices are the only source as far as I know............
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Darren,
you have not done quite well, you have done Extremely well.
most peeps would die to get that far back.
for me I keep looking for Mr B B Wall 1714 ;-)
unless you have some royal blood then there is a possibility?
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You've come to the end (or beginning) of most PR and are very fortunate to have got so far with (presumably) documentary evidence.
You could try Wills from the National Archive, or possibly purchase a disc of ones in your relatives' area. They may be mentioned as a beneficiary. Monument inscriptions may have survived or been recorded. You could seek out and join a FH group local to the area, or at the very least ask them for advice. They are more likely to know what is available, such as Manorial Records. Obviously, you've more chance if someone was wealthy, had dealings with the Courts of Law or was a bad 'un, to have his name recorded.
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Congrat's Darren,
you must be feeling really chuffed....i also have got back to the late 1600's on my dad's side,due to the fact that they stayed in the same place, which was hayfield in derbyshire...and helped by a very kind person on here who has derbyshire disc's...
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is there anything on the IGI for you....
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I agree that it may now be necessary to look at other records in addition to parish registers.
From my 'crib sheet' records that you may need to look at for this period...
Deeds (from 11c)
Feet of Fines (from late 12c to early 19c)
Manor Court Rolls (from 13c)
Inquisition Post Mortem (from early 13c to early 17c)
Lay Subsidies (from early 13c to end of 17c)
Quarter Sessions (from mid/late 14c)
Probates (from mid/late 14c)
Chancery Proceedings (from late 14c to late 19c)
Visitations (from 16c to early 17c)
Apprentices and Freemen (from 16c)
School and University Registers (from 16c)
Marriage Licences (from 16c)
Parish Registers (from early/mid 16c)
Bishops Transcripts (from late 16c to mid/late 19c)
Non Conformist Records (from 17c)
Jewish Records (from 17c)
Quaker Records (from mid 17c)
Poor Law (from mid 17c to early/mid 19c)
Roman Catholic Records (from mid/late 17c)
Some obviously won't apply to your research but I just copy and pasted the relevant period!
You may also find various NA podcasts interesting and informative as to areas to research, in particular...'The annual Ancestors Lecture: Our 17th century ancestors'
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/
Good luck
Chris
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Whilst Parish registers started in 1538, many early records no longer exist. You have probably reached the end of the line with your research. The only chance you have of getting back earlier if if you have a connection to the baronetry when you could well be able to find a published pedigree.
My wife is related to just such a family whose history goes back through the Norman Conquest to the "Northmen" of Scandinavia. The trick is then finding the connection from the largely undocumented non-noble line back into the well documented noble one.....!
The following info may be of interest to members re parish registers.
A Brief History of Parish Registers. Here is a timeline which gives you a summary of how Parish Registers began, and how they have changed over time.
1538 Cromwell, from the court of Henry VIII, ordered that every wedding, baptism and burial was to be recorded.
1553 There may be gaps in Parish Registers between 1553 and 1558 and the Catholic Mary Tudor was on the throne.
1558 Although early records were made on paper, in 1558 parchment was used, and the older records were supposed to have been copied (although some never were and have been lost).
1597 A second copy of the records had to be made and sent to the Bishop.
1642 There may be gaps in the records during the English Civil War and Commonwealth (1642-1660), as records were poorly kept or hidden, and some have been lost.
1678 Between 1678 and 1814 an affidavit was required to be sworn that when buried, the deceased was buried in wool or a fine of £5 was given.
1751 Calender changes - One calendar year became Jan 1st to 31st December, rather than having each year start on March 25th.
1783 A stamp duty of 3 pence was imposed on every entry, although paupers were exempt. Tax evasion naturally occured, and the Act was repealed in 1794, and declared unsuccessful.
1812 Baptisms, marriages and burials were entered in seperate, specially printed books, eight entries per page and including more information.
1837 Civil registration is introduced.
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