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How far back do records go

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Southside (U1970620) on Saturday, 3rd September 2005

  Can anyone please tell me just how far back people can go in looking up their ancestors, I imagine if you come from a titled/noble family it is easier to find out more information, but what of the ordinary person, when did proper records begin to be kept.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TwoBitTwoBit (U1573417) on Saturday, 3rd September 2005

  The requirement for certification of every birth, marriage and death was introduced in 1837.
  
  The requirement for churches to keep parish registers of every baptism, marriage and burial was introduced in the early 16th century, though obviously these records are not comprehensive.
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by dmatt74 (U1690430) on Saturday, 3rd September 2005

  As far as England and Wales is concerned the national registration of births, deaths and marriages started in July 1837. In theory the earliest date from the parsih registers is the mid-16th century. This would depend on the records surviving and entries being there.
  
  There is a mountain of subsidiary records concerning land and houses that could go back to the 11th century. The Domesday Books are probably the oldest known document from 1087, but it the gaps that are the problem as a direct line is not easy, but going back to the 1750s is feasable for most families. Families from a nobality background should be easy to find but finding your ancestor was involved in a well-known event such as the Jacobite Rebellions or the Battle of Waterloo is a possibility, but most records were not created for family historians but for a variety of government reasons.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Southside (U1970620) on Saturday, 3rd September 2005

  Ok thanks for the information. so it appears that unless you are of some importance then you cannot go too far back before the 1750s, thanks again.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by TwoBitTwoBit (U1573417) on Sunday, 4th September 2005

  Of course it should be noted that by the time you go 500 or 600 years back the number of direct descendents you have is potentially huge.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by chloesh18 (U1981588) on Monday, 5th September 2005

  i know people who have gone as far as the 1500-1600's

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by alwayssearching (U1987940) on Wednesday, 7th September 2005

  Hi
  Have you tried looking at the IGI (International Geneaological Index) this has been compiled by the LDSD (Mormon) Church taken from baptisms & marriages, once you know the name you are seeking children or parents, go to www.familysearch.org
  When you are presented with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Page, click on Ancestors and you will then fill in the details asked, surname, first name etc, if you have some idea of the time period you can fill that in, but best really to leave it blank, also, if you know the area, i.e. Yorkshire/Syafford for example, put that on also, otherwise leave blank, the idea of filling this in, does help reduce the number of possibles, so if you do not mind trawling through 100s of names, leave it blank, you will find the instructions quite clear to follow, then stipulate what you are seeking, baptism/marriage etc, type in your names and off you go.
  You can also access the 1881 census free, just click on to that (all details for searching are shown on the left hand side)
  Hope the site will be of help to you, providing of course that your ancestors were baptised/married in the Established Church of
  England

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