Anyone get as far as me without using Record offices

[Sylviaann]

I've never been to a record office either but I did spend two hours a week for 10 years at my local Family history centre looking at their films of Parish Registers.  I got one line back to 1670.  I may have got back to 1600 but cannot prove the connection. Too many people with the same name.

I also read a lot of books ordered from my local library, to get background information.  I get Family Tree magazine and belong to 6 Family History Societies and have a collection of books about two of my regions.

Since getting on the net I have found more background info and a few relatives and soldiers discharge papers.

I couldn't travel to the areas of interest.

Sylviaann

[Bill749]

I've cracked the 1600 barrier but I could not have done it without the record offices - there were no on-line resources or local LDS centres back in the 1980s!

I still prefer to use the original records rather than relying on transcripts and indexes.  Anything I find on-line I always try to check from the original source or at least an image of the original source to eliminate transcription errors.

Regards, Bill

[kerryb]

Bill

Don't you think there is something rather special about handing an original source, particular if it has some writing or signatures of your ancestors on it??  You don't get that online.

Don't get me wrong though, I think it is great the amount of stuff you can download and see online, I think the net is brilliant for bringing so much information into my own home.  I just love record offices!

Kerry

[Gadget]

I think it's the smell of them and the atmosphere and just the history of it all - al those years of documents. Wearing gloves and having a cushion to prop them on. And when you see your ancestors signatures (not many in my case  ) it's well................................

Jan had a thread a while back about going into the Archives at the Shropshire Records Office.


Gadget

[kerryb]

When you see a signature it's like you can connect with that person.  Or is that a bit fanciful??

Kerry

[Gadget]

Not fanciful at all.

I'm not sure whether I'd describe it as connecting but it's tingle making. Even more powerful than a photo. This was my ancestor who was alive and made this mark - even the little crosses instead of signatures set me off 

Gadget - just an old romantic softee 

[kerryb]

You and me both, I try to imagine them as they were writing that signature, what did they look like, what were they thinking etc

Kerry

[Kath RAF]

Hows this for a thought, I live in N. Lincolnshire and my daughter and family live in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, until recently I didn't know I had G,G, Grandparents from a place called Campton about 10 minutes drive from Arlesey. Decided to take a ride out one morning and yes walking down the streets and lanes and past the old pub ( which I am sure they must have used) certainly made the hair stand up on the back of my head. Walked around the church yard , unable to enter the church but sat on a bench outside for a while contemplating. Sadly it would appear no relatives still live in the area.
But what a great feeling, next weekend I will be down again and this time intend to arrive at Campton when the pub is open.

[Bill749]

I know that feeling Kath - I get it whenever I stand by their (invariably unmarked) graves.  You feel you want to talk to them, to ask them for the answers to so many (now) un-answerable questions about their lives.

I guess I'm just another romantic old softie, but I can't help a little tear sometimes.   

Regards, Bill