How to research family tree before 1777.

[Lincoln1955]

Hi Everyone

A friend has researched my paternal line to 1777 in Chelmsford, so I am an Essex girl, surprise, surprise. Thought I was a Norwich girl through and through! Can anyone advise how to research before this date please.

Great Great Great Grandad Edward Lincoln. Born in Chelmsford 1777 and died in Purleigh 1832.
Thanks.

[mckha489]

Indexes are here

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1465709   (Family search is a free site).

His father was also Edward. 

I believe the original parish records are at the Essex record office.


https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/

Someone who really knows will be along soon.
Were they well to do enough to leave a will? 

Have you checked out Essex resources on this site?

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/essex-resources-offers/.   

If it was me I would try and find all the baptisms say 15 years either side with an father Edward, in the hope one of them named the mother, and also to see what names were given.  Especially if there was repetition of a name when an infant died.   This might help rule out contenders for the next generation back.

[QueenoftheWest]

Great Great Great Grandad Edward Lincoln. Born in Chelmsford 1777 and died in Purleigh 1832.

Is this the Edward Lincoln buried on 24th November 1832 in Purleigh, because he has an estimated birth year of 1766 (aged ~66 at death).

There is a baptism on 24th April 1768 for an Edward, son of Joseph & Sarah Lincoln, in Purleigh. Where did you get Chelmsford in 1777 from? There is an infant burial for an Edward Lincoln on 15th December 1777 in Chelmsford; this may be for the Edward baptised 5th March 1777.

Queenie 

[Lincoln1955]

Queen of the Rest

A friend researched my family tree for me and gave me the birth year of 1777 and death year of 1832. He did put born in Purleigh near Chelmsford elsewhere in my paperwork.

[QueenoftheWest]

Perhaps ask them to clarify this information, as the 1768 baptism seems far more likely to me, especially as Edward's first son was called Joseph.

Queenie 

[Lincoln1955]

Wueen of the rest. Think you are right, 1777 doesn’t seem right as in the 1911 census hecage was put as over 70. And yes his 1st son was called Joseph. Thank you so much.

[QueenoftheWest]

1911 census hecage was put as over 70.

1911 census? He died in 1832?

Queenie 

[Lincoln1955]

Queen of the west. Sorry. Research 2 x Edward Lincoln’s, great great great and great  grandfathers. Getting confused.

[QueenoftheWest]

It's easily done 

Would you like some help going further back, or just general research advice?

If it was me I would try and find all the baptisms say 15 years either side

This is always a good first step. If you identify all the siblings, then the names will often provide clues for the names of the grandparents. Also, the parents usually married not long before the baptism of their first child, so that can help a lot when searching for the marriage.

It is also a good idea to find the burial records of the parents, as they often provide an age at death, and so an estimated year of birth.

Queenie