Message text written by INTERNET:[email protected] Winn: >> So, what is the bottom line then? > I for one am looking for my ancestry which I have already traced to 1612, > but I am not about to engage in a pretty fairy-tale. > We have to be sure!!! > > You are not back to the Middle Ages. You are going to have to put up with what may be many "fairy-tales" The only people who had written records back in that time period before about 1500-1550 are members of royalty and the landed aristocracy that they married with. These old records are not written in current languages, people back then did not have naming systems with first, middle, and last names. They may be shown my numerous different names depending upon who did the research and where they found their information. Prepare for a shock. The Gen-Med-L list is great for this time period,but you have to be prepared for some really bad arguments by some strong minded people who are not always polite. Jno<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I agree with most of your message, but at the same time I believe there is enough data available to prove that the Davenport name did begin in Cheshire where the land was given to one of William's knights.- And yes, when you get to the late 1500s or so one tends to reach a dead end unless there was some specific data on your ancestor which was recorded. For instance, in my case I have traced back to the early 1600s which is very close to all the well-known Davenport lines. I am hoping to connect somewhere there. I'm not an expert, but (it is often the case) in the Middle Ages and before the oldest son inherited everything and usually they tried to help the rest of the children out through marriages (especially in the case of girls) and sons often went into the Military, Priesthood and the like. What does disturb me though, and I'd like to find the answer, is this other theory making the rounds (and I *have heard it before as well) .... the one suggesting that the Davenport name has something to do with the Dane river and a period *before William the Conqueror. I'm actually a member of Compuserve and staid with them because of the many forums they had - sadly diminished how since the AOL take-over. It was there that I met several Davenports in England and somewhere here I have lists of the well-known EARLY lines. At the moment I have a problem with time since my husband is going into the hospital for surgery but if anyone is interested I could probably scan some of them so that others could look them over in the hope if connecting somewhere. Personally I am convinced that the US Davenport are the same as the British ones - clearly, we all know that many English settled here early on.- Actually I believe the William the Conqeror story but we do have to connect the dots and not just merely *assume*. Winn