Dear all, You may be aware of the Langtons of Bristol already, they were Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol, and wealthy merchants from the 17th century and they used to own the Bath Spa university campus at Newton St. Loe. I am trying to trace the early part of the family before they rose to become really prominent. Roughly speaking, that means pre-1600s. These are the fragments that I have after a lot of searching: Francis Langton, noatary public (1552 and 1553) attourney (1556). Richard Langton, notary public (1550-1591 - many records), Steward of the hospital of St. Katherine in Bedminster (1570). He had two wives, a Mary and later a Margaret (her will 1599) He had a son Thomas with one of them: Thomas Langton, 1552, and 1555. George Langton, 1581 reference in Bristol. Charles 1570 (with Richard Langton), 1573, 1585, 1587, 1588. Richard is noted in a couple of references as being lately of Kirkby Wharfe, Yorkshire. There was a Langton family there just before this time, with a Richard having a son Francis. It is a different Richard, but I think that its the same Francis. My best guess therefore is that Richard, notary public is his brother. I also have these early fragments, that are more reliably connected to the later Bristol Mayors/Sheriffs: Barnard Langton of Bitton and London, had a daughter Ellenor who married James Lacy. Think she is the Ellyn Langton baptised in Horfield in 1564. Later the Lacy's sold Brislington manor to the Langton mayors. Anselm Langton, 1585, pardoned by a writ of privy seal. 1598, and mentioned in Sheriff and Mayor John Langton's will as his brother. An earlier John Langton who married Mary Bassett of Uley. Mid 1500s and a Horfield reference with Mary in 1565. Anselm 1598 with John (later Mayor) his brother. Katrene Langton who married Henry Gibson in Horfield, 20 Oct 1595. William Langton, of Dyrham, buried 1604. There is also a Margery Hobbes (nee: Langton) leaving a will in the 1630s. I have it but it's hard for me to read. It does talk about land in Barton Hundred (Barton Regis) though. Here is a link to my site with the tree. Most peoples records contain links to the sources: http://www.lostlangtons.co.uk/other/langton/humogen/family.php?database=humo_&id=F1324&main_person=I3604&descendant_report=1 What I'd like to do is prove a connection between the top group and the bottom group, which would establish that they are the same family, and that the Bristol Langtons came from Yorkshire. There are about a dozen different Langton families, so its by no means certain based on the information i have at the moment. Id also like to understand how people are related better and find any other Langtons around this time. At the moment i have them on my site, glued together as sensibly as I can, but its held together by guesses at the moment. Hopefully one of you has a little piece of important information, or has access to something I dont, or something I have missed. Thank you in advance for your efforts, which are much appreciated. Joel