How do people trace their families back to the 1600's? I can only go back 1798!

Question

How do people trace their families back to the 1600's? I can only go back 1798!

Answer 1

i think they are very lucky and have ancestors who were on records of some kind that are still available like land records or readable parish records or they already have family records kept. mine are all 'ag labs' and i have a whole side of the family with very common names, like jones, smith, alexander and a load of irish ancestors and the irish records were burnt down in 1922, i dont know what parish in ireland they are from so dont even know where to start,

woe is me....

Answer 2

I have a couple of comments.

First: if someone else does your work be careful what you believe. The LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) have some good information but it is not accurate all of the time. For example someone had assumed that my grandmother was dead after age 90. She is still kicking and breathing at 95.

Second: Take a few classes from your local genealogy society. Almost all counties of most states have a genealogy society.

Third: Documentation, if you can't document it then it really doesn't count.  No one will accept your research if you don't have it documented.

Fourth: Take all family stories with the grain of salt. Sometimes you get some pretty good leads but most of it is just a story.

Good luck, work hard, pray harder.

Answer 3

I can only go back to my great-grand father.

Answer 4

People didn't travel around much in those days. Therefore wherever you are in 1798 start searching graveyards and/or parish records.

Answer 5

Church records (christening, marriage, death), gravestones, pension records (In the USA, from the Revolutionary war), land records ("John smith and his wife Margaret sell 300 acres to her brother, Ebeneezer Jones . . . "), tax records. The further back you go the harder it gets.

Again in the USA, naturalization records. One of my ancestors took an oath of loyalty to HRH in 1757. Twenty years later he drove a herd of cattle to Valley Forge and said, in effect, "Hey George - you guys hungry?"  His eldest son died there in 1778, leaving bloody footprints in the snow.

Family Bible help. Once in a while you get a letter some geezer wrote in 1810, about his parents and grandparents. You have to take it with a grain of salt, especially when they mention famous people or feats of strength.

Answer 6

you've done better then me i've got to 1854 and am stuck!

Answer 7

i have gone back a lot more than that some of it has been tracking down gravve stones and tracking that way  but a lot of it has been through the lds church family history its free and has the biggest family history library in the world. in the usa , the second biggest is also owned by them and it is in london

go on to

the church of jesus christ of latter day saints,

then enter family history

you will be suprized what you will , find,

if you are still struggling send a personal email on my contact , i can send some help for your area   as we have family history helpers in the church all over the world

it is still free and open to none members ,

no you do not have to become a member of the church

it really is an exciting journey please let us help you

Answer 8

as suggested visit the local church, as long as they have their records they will normally let you look at them, its usual to make a small donaton to the church, suggest you take a digital camera to photo the pages that interest you so you can study them later, also if your lucky search the internet you may find someone has already researched your tree. happy hunting