Thread: before 1541

hi, can anyone tell me how to go back from 1541? other than going to the record office which is miles away from me, i have tried all the main websites and only can get back to 1541! i know my family is quite an old name in liverpool and all the others seem to go back further, please help?

Hi Kimberlynn,



Have you put the right year down ? If so, you will be very lucky to get back further.

yes- perhaps i will be lucky to get back, but its worth a shot!! thanks k.

Hi Kimberlynn,



Have you tried your local LDS centre. They might be able to order the film for you to view. They will also be able to tell you what year records are available from for the area you want.

Hello Kimberlynn,



Parish registers did not commence until 1538 when Thomas Cromwell ordered that every parish must keep a register of baptisms, marriages and burials.



So, unless your/our ancestors were from the aristocracy we're not going to be able to get back any further.



Notebook

apparently they are according to liverpool archives! sephton is the name and we were excluded from the longest running name challenge in liverpool because they said we have been aristocracy! and only non aristocracy names could apply. well, i dont know when we were, but back until 1541 i cant find any clues although they were well off! which makes us wonder if they were further back you see.

Hi Kimberlynn,



You may find this url helpful. Though I do think it will be an arduous task to get further back than 1538. Also it will certainly be necessary to visit a record office.



http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/...milies_a.shtml

yes, thank you, i know i will have to travel about a bit now, oh well-something to do in the holidays i suppose, will try my best. thanks again!

Hi Kimberlynn,



I hope that you are remembering to check all your finds against parish records. I found my tree connected to the sherrif of Cornwall who then I found on a tree was joined onto the tree of Lady Diana Spencer.



see:- http://www.ancestryaid.co.uk/boards/...g-brother.html



I started joining names but then a date didn't seem right. One of the men fathered a child at a very old age (I can't remember the age now). I have so far not been able to prove it one way or another but have landed up taking off loads of names incase these are not my ancestors.



Another part of my tree has been wrongly connected on a one name study.



I hope you have more luck with yours.

[quote name='Starlight']Hi Kimberlynn,



I hope that you are remembering to check all your finds against parish records. I found my tree connected to the sherrif of Cornwall who then I found on a tree was joined onto the tree of Lady Diana Spencer.



see:- http://www.ancestryaid.co.uk/boards/...g-brother.html



I started joining names but then a date didn't seem right. One of the men fathered a child at a very old age (I can't remember the age now). I have so far not been able to prove it one way or another but have landed up taking off loads of names incase these are not my ancestors.



Another part of my tree has been wrongly connected on a one name study.



I hope you have more luck with yours.[/quote]



Hello

Very sound advice, Starlight. Unfortunately, too many people are not following it. They are just copying published secondary "records" without checking with original documents, or looking for other proof.

I am afraid that a great many trees etc. on the net are far from accurate. Sometimes mistakes, which we all make, are very obvious - ie a child being born to a parent age 12 - but those who are just "name collecting" take umbrage when someone attempts to correct the error.

For ordinary people to be able to get back past the 17th century is a feat in itself.

Victoria