Family history..

My in-laws were Smiths but I managed to trace them back to 9th generation in some places. You just have to be careful to confirm everything with the certificates where possible.

 

I started doing our family tree on my mothers side and got back to the 1800's quite quickly just through stuff known by family members. The best bit, I created an account with genes reunited and a relative I never knew existed picked up on it from Australia (a cousin 4th removed????), and he'd been doing his history for 35 years and had in excess of 900 names going back to the late 1600's and my tree was like a missing link if you like!!!

His surname is the same as my grandmothers and it was a link he was trying to trace.

Our trees are now shared with each other and I have a lot of work done for me, cheating I know but its great looking back at ancestors and reading their details.

Another thing we found out was that my grandmothers mother possibly married or was 'involved' with a member of the family who owned the Tatton Estate in Cheshire in the 1800's; as she was only a maid at the house it was apparently frowned on in those days . Funny thing was my nan always insisted there was an inheritence owing to our family from Tatton but just thought she was a bit "nuts" in a nice way, bless her......but if a marriage took place you just never know

 

I have a Smith tree on my mothers side back to early 1700's - bet we're not related though!

 

My family on my fathers side all originate in the north east of Scotland, A lot of Munro's in the family, turns out that after Culloden a lot of Highlanders took on English names, sh*tebags.
on my mothers side we are west coast Scots with the name Brydson an old viking name and McDougall

 

Reviving this old thread...

I need to trace details of my grandmother but don't want to get too involved with websites at this point. So taking this quote below from GC's late Steve R, I wonder if anyone can recommend a couple of more recent sites I can start with please, as this thread was started in 2012.

 

Does this help?

UK Census Online

It's free to search. Very old data but should cover grandparents.

 

Thanks for that Clueless, I'll take a look.

 

I took a look last evening Clueless. I started by using my grandmothers married name, it's unusual (so was her middle name) and easier for a search. I also selected the area where she died. A response came up with the year of her death and where it was registered. I didn't get beyond that as it suggests hitting a button for further information - that's where the charges start, so I abandoned it. If push comes to shove then I will pay, but meanwhile I'll look elsewhere.

 

Thanks John. It's not easy for me to access a library here so I'll continue on web sites. I had a brief look at Ancestry.com but it looks like I'll have to pay there too. I don't need a great deal of information, just my grandmother's date of birth and the area she was born in. Unfortunately her maiden name was Smith and I believe, but am not certain, that she was born in London around the year 1900. So the tracking won't be easy.

With that information which is sketchy, there is no point in checking the census. However parish records of where she was buried may give me something to work with.

 

@Sheal I used Ancestry 12 years ago to research and compile my maternal family tree....I love it ! I had a year's subscription but you could have a 2week free trial back then, that could be all you need to get the relevant info on your Gran......just make sure you cancel after 2weeks otherwise you will automatically get signed up for a longer period.

Check it out and see I the free trial is still offered.

 

Thank you both, John and Upsydaisy for the information. I'll take a look and see where both sites lead me.