Hi, I think how far you can go back depends on 3 main things - 1) considerate ancestors who stayed put and married locally, 2) co-operative clergy who completed register entries legibly, and with enough data to be useful and, 3) churches with good roofs and no mice. In one line I have an ancestor baptised in 1563 (a father's name would have been helpful), another ancestor was baptised in 1560 - both lines still had direct descendants in the same villages in the 1850s, and the parish records have survived. However, another line I've got back to 1840-ish (through finding a toddler in the census) and that's likely to be it - the name is John Jones, the country is Wales and the denomination (from other sources) is Baptist. The best chance I have of finding his father's baptism is to print off the list of possibles, close my eyes and stick a pin in the list. Regards, Ellie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mellie" <chouikh2006@btinternet.com> To: <ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 1:17 AM Subject: Re: [ENG-SHROP] Good Afternoon Shropshire - Reynolds; Summerfield; Thomas > Hi Renee > > Congratulations on your family tree back to 1639 WOW!!!!!!! > > Here is me proud just to go back to 1850 > > Please share just how you were able to go back so far > > We, us, that struggle with our families would dearly love to > know just how it is done > > Bye for now > > Joy > in Australia > > Joy you have every right to be proud, I know some people who are stuggling > to get to 1901, knowing that if they can just get there the censuses will do > the rest!! and then there are some lines that are very well documented, in > the US for example the pioneers etc their immigrant records are worthy! in > Aus you have some good convict records, Britland has not always done well > with preserving records,, some lines are well documented due to land title > deeds,a s is one of mine back to 1530 plus a generation beyond birthdate > unknown! > 1 rellie or 1000 rellies, as long as each "new" find excites you as much as > the first, as long as you feel totally frsutrated at that missing link that > will make it all fit, then you have every right to be proud of your > genealogy. of course you could throw out your 1850 brick wall if thats what > it is and see if anyone can help, even if its just another possible way for > you to research it, thats what genealogy is about, sharing with caring!! so > come on lets have the 1850 brick wall and mull it around you never > know.......... > Mellie > How Come My Coat Of Arms Has Buckles At The Back? > > ______________________________