Genealogy Chat

Thanks for nudging Janet.

I am adding my 'crib sheet' for 17th century possible resources for research.....Some of which my have already been covered in this thread.

Please note I am only listing what could be available, specifically, for the 17th Century.

Deeds
Feet of Fines
Manor Court Rolls
Inquisition Post Mortem (to early 17c)
Lay Subsidies
Quarter Sessions
Probates
Chancery Proceedings
Visitations (to early 17c)
Apprentices and Freemen
School and University Registers
Marriage Licences
Parish Registers
Bishops Transcripts
Non Conformist Records
Jewish Records
Quaker Records (from mid 17c)
Poor Law (from mid 17c)
Roman Catholic Records (from mid to late 17c)
Commercial Directories (from late 17c)

Chris

That's brilliant Chris

Janet NLB

Michael

I do sympathise, as my last real sighting of one of mine in Northants is 1633 bap in a small hamlet, although I did find his Commonwealth Marriage in 1657 in another hamlet close by but into Hunts. These Commonwealth Marriages are fairly unique and also unusual as not many have survived, so if you find one then do take note.

I can only suggest, to start with, that you take all the parishes around your one of interest to include maybe those over the borders and check their registers first at least to eliminate if nothing else. I am doing that with mine over the borders into Beds/Hunts and Leicestershire.

I am sure you are aware that most people took the sides of the people they were working for, so Estate Records would be very valuable and in this the A2A site is so good for giving leads. Good luck as it is a fascinating time to have ancestors.

Janet

I was lucky enough to have one branch of my tree originate in Wiltshire - plus they had an unusual surname, so it was relatively easy to trace back to the beginning of records in the mid-1500s (although I still spent many hours, up all hours of the night piecing them all together and then double-checking over and over again).

GENFAIR online have an extensive amount of information for anyone researching in that area (supplied by the Wiltshire Family History Society).

I was able to purchase via their website transcribed copies of the following (at very reasonable cost):

parish registers
apprentice records
bastardy records
church pew rents
Marriage allegations 1598-1638
Hair powder tax records
Salisbury records (Strangers in Salisbury 1675-1738 & Relief of poor 1757 and Gifts for poor apprentices, children bound and prisoners)

I also managed to find a few old wills, which shed light on quite a few things and made the whole research so much more interesting!

A trip to the Wiltshire Records Office last year enlightened me further when I was able to find certain prisoners records and court info.

So, if you have ancestors from Wiltshire you have plenty of resources available - most of which can be ordered from the comfort of your own home without having to traipse down to the RO. Check out the WFHS or GENFAIR website and you'll see what I mean.

Athena

Athena

Love the 'Hair Powder Tax' records :)))

My mind is working overtime as to how they worked that out.....By weight of powder used??
I have visions of a man sitting in a house shaking out wigs to calculate the applicable amount of tax....LOL

Seriously though. Did an individual have to declare they used powder and they were then taxed?

Chris

*** UPDATE ****
Just found the answer......For those interested

http://www.printsgeorge.com/Jane_Austen-law.htm#powder

Adding so I can find this later - am just embarking on my research for this century -!!

Thanks for all the advice given!

Kaz :o)