Tracing Kent ancestors back beyond 1595

[Studham56]

I pickup the family tree bug of wanting to go back as far as I can. However, seem to hit a brick wall with the Death of my 10th Great Granfather death in 1595 in Monkton Kent. I guess this is when they started keeping records. Is there anyway of tracing further back ?  Would any records be church based and in latin? Any tips greatly appreciated.

Best Regards
Richard

[bearkat]

There are lots of records out there. Generally the more wealthy or bad your ancestors were, the more you are likely to find.

Look at wills

https://wills.canterbury-cathedral.org/

Marriage Licences

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/385535?availability=Family%20History%20Library/

The Kent Archaeological Society have a fantastic website

https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/

Try Medieval genealogy

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

and search through Google books.

[grandarog]

Hi Richard ,
               There was a Richard Studman ,son of Richard. Baptised 6 Jan 1581 at Petworth Sussex. Bit young to be your chap but probably related.

[Vance Mead]

You can also try legal records:
https://waalt.uh.edu/index.php/Main_Page

There's a John Studham, of Blechynglegh, Surrey, husbandman, in 1495

I'm not sure what range of spellings is possible: Studam, Studom, Stoddom, Stodham, etc.

[Vance Mead]

There are also the County record office catalogues:

https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/

https://www.kentarchives.org.uk/olboxes/our-online-catalogue/

In Surrey there are two Studhams in the 15th century. One of them, William Studham of Bletchingley, may be the same as mentioned earlier, though this is in 1460, so he may be a generation earlier.

[Studham56]

Wow! That is amazing. Thank you Vance Mead, Gradarog and Bearcat some very useful links and hints there. They may help me over the barrier.
 Thanks for your support
Best Regards
Richard