How far back have you got?

[coombs]

If your ancestors were vicars, aldermen, MP's, local Mayors then that can help as it leaves a good paper trail on the individual. My ancestor Robert Lambert moved from Walberswick Suffolk to Colchester and became an Alderman in the 1500s.

Wills are probably the best source for pre 1600 research. Even if many did not leave a will, many were named in one.

[Mowsehowse]

I have spent decades believing it was impossible for me to find a trail for my multi country European extraction, so despite this is small beer to many of you, I am absolutely thrilled to have German record transcripts suggesting a pair of 6 x great grandparents in one of my lines.

[coombs]

Also you may find likely ancestors with the same uncommon surname, but it is 3 or 4 generations back from your earliest known ancestor with the same surname, and you are not sure how they connect to your ancestor born 100 or so years later.

My ancestor John Coggeshall was born c1582, son of Roger of Fornham St Martin, Suffolk, and there was a Roger Coggeshall who died in 1541 in Fornham. His 1541 will does not mention a son or grandson Roger as far as I know but if I was to connect them, it would take me a long way back.

I have a John Larwood of Combs, Suffolk, born c1610 and it is believed the Larwood's descend from a single family way back in the 1200s in Horstead, Norfolk.

[Knight-Sunderland]

The earliest record I have -

Roger Challice married Joan Predham on 5 February 1555 at the village of Newton St Cyres, Devon.

I am also descended from the Havelock family of Guisborough, and there are trees that have that family going back to the 1400's, but I'm yet to prove that.

[Mowsehowse]

Knight, so lucky the records are good there.
Newton St Cyres is a nice place...... some of my grandaughters went to primary school there. 

[coombs]

The Glemsford area of Suffolk also has good records. Lots of wealthy clothiers and merchants lived in that area, some are my ancestors. And a number of the clothiers/merchants, or their siblings and children went to America in the early to mid 1600s.

[Meelystar]

I am going to buck the trend here and say 1740s, despite researching on and off for 20 years  ::  I am absolutely sure that it is possible to go back further on some lines but I have found plenty to do just focussing on more recent events. I think it will be a post lockdown resolution to concentrate on getting back to the 17th century on at least one of my lines though!

[guest189040]

Going sideways can also be very rewarding.

I did the Ancestry DNA test years ago and currently I am working through the matches that have been reported.

It can also help to confirm or otherwise the dubious person you have in the tree, the one where you have made a guess through lack of supportive info.

[pharmaT]

Going sideways can also be very rewarding.

I did the Ancestry DNA test years ago and currently I am working through the matches that have been reported.

It can also help to confirm or otherwise the dubious person you have in the tree, the one where you have made a guess through lack of supportive info.

It certainly has for me. It has lead me to finding out more for my direct ancestors, investigating mining and industrial accidents, and many fascinating people.  Fascinating for all sorts of different reasons. I find it especially fascinating how diverse the descendants of just one couple can become over the space of a few generations.