Genealogy Chat

Bel..that must be great when someone in the family kept records...I do have a family bible but all the names in it are aunts, uncles and grandparents, that I already knew. Angela, you make it sound so easy, do you live near the records office that you needed? The records office near me is brilliant but I have no ancestors in it!! Thanks both for your input....I think I just needed to let off steam...now I'll get back to it!!. By the way...they are brilliant on this board...and so informed

Hi Jean, I think (as has already been said) that the parish records are your best bet. I was having the same problem - I used the IGI to tie up the name I was researching BUT, there didn't seem to be enough men born between 1770 - 1800?? Now I had checked the records on film for other years before and they had been spot on so I thought the IGI for the parish I was researching was complete...Well the other day I went to the local archives to check the poor relief records and while I was there I decided to just double check the baptisms for 1770 - 1800 and to my surprise I found lots of males that were not on the IGI. I found about 15 males for the name I was researching which has helped a great deal - I also found reference to my ancestor in the select vestry minutes which was a double bonus!!!!! I still don't know why only female baps were transcribed though!! Keep at it...you'll get there!!! Deb

I had a funny feeling that all the names aren't on IGI, Deb. I'll have to get myself over to Kendal and check for myself. Nobody said it was going to be easy!! What's the 'select vestry notes', is it something that the vicar writes, sort of in the margins? It sounds very special.......your rellies weren't royalty were they...?

I can only agree - Parish Regs are the way to go. If you dont live near the Parish then you can order the filmed registers from your nearest LDS centre and view them there. I have several times finished up doing a village tree in order to sort out three different James or Johns or whoever. It takes ages, but it is SOOOOO satisfying when some tiny little detail in the PR makes everything clear. I follow this up with Removal and Settlement Orders and Bastardy Orders too, generally, in my family! Monumental Inscriptions can give a wealth of details AND clues. The most surprisingly humble people left Wills, in my experience, certainly all the farmers and crofters and quite a few ag labs, who had an acre or so of land to pass on. I have one line back to 1498, courtesy of Parish Registers. I have another line stuck fast in 1824, despite doing a village tree. Short of a miracle, I will not be able to get any further back on this one. OC

Thanks OC, I can now feel my strength rising...lol.....renewed vigour...and all that. Hail or shine, I will get my body over to Kendal. I sometimes think you just need somebody to moan to...to give you that extra spurt when you feel like packing it in. ('cos hubby's no help) Thanks everyone

Hi Jean, The select vestry minutes were the books that contained information on the poor of the parish....My ancestor was an 'out of work' labourer and went to the parish for poor relief.....I suppose it's a bit like the 'dole'. The records gave me details of his family situation at that time, his age and abode and how much relief he was to get...So not much I didn't already know - well except the fact that he was VERY poor!! I noticed some entries that gave a wealth of info - just pot-luck I suppose! If you do go to the archives be prepared to spend a lot of time there and you will also need a follow-up visit (or two!) Deb

Thanks Deb,...think I'd better rent a cottage over there for a week, the amount of looking up I have to do. I've just taken Paul's advice and googled...not that I haven't done it before..lol...but this time I struck lucky...thanks Paul. I hit on the Paul & Amanda Barfoot site...again, and found parents of Mary Lunsen (who was my William Ellwood's mother)...and her grandfather.....going back to the middle of the 1600's.........I'm getting there at last......so pleased, I've poured myself a drink... Thanks to you all once again. Jean