General Chat

In my family history research, I have been really surprised to find that my male line ancestors have been in Banbury since 1810 (and before that only 20 miles away). I suppose that makes me a local. Well. I think this is pretty unusual for this day and age, especially as this is a large town, and not a little village. Does anyone else go back a long way in the same place right up to now. Who goes back the longest?

hi nigel my grandad was born in high wycombe (in a village called booker)in 1898. my dad was born in booker and so was i. we are both still living here. before that my ancesters arrived in aylesbury from london in 1760 .aylesbury is about 15miles from wycombe. so i reckon im a local as well lol susie

Hi Nigel, Dont know if we have met I live in Bloxham, not a local though I am from London, Still might be able to help sandra

My lot were in different areas of Bucks right back to the early 1600's - I broke the chain when I moved from there back in 1978. One of Susies lot was living in Bowdrey Lane (a lane named after one of my lot) and another of Susies was living next door but one to the house my mother was born in (well, 50 years earlier anyway!!). lol

My family hasn't exactly stayed in the same place ( I went to 6 primary schools), but when I was 11 we moved to Fawley near the New Forest and stayed there 5 years. Last year, I traced my great grandmother's family back to 1746 there!! Also, from the age of 8 - 11, we lived in different parts of Cornwall, Each time we moved, we were less than 3 miles from the various villages my father's ancestors came from, and at the time he knew nothing about his family.

My husbands Bland family have been all born and bred & died in Northampton since 1840's. My step-fathers Moon family have all been in and around Coalville in Leicestershire in 1794! I think what stops these families moving are that they are all very close families and none of them can bear to leave relatives and move to another area. Both my husbands' sisters have moved to Cumbria at one time, but have both come back to Northampton!

Hi Nigel, I live in Bicester just down the road from Banbury, although I am not a local. It must make things much easier to track down your ancestors when they stayed in the same place for so long. Kathy

Maggie, My family have also gone full circle after over 200 years!! My gt-gt-gt-grandfather came from Cork, Ireland in c1795 and my brother's grandson has now married a girl from Cork and gone back there to live - so the Casey name lives on - back to its roots!! Also this same ancestor moved over to London and worked as a gardener/nurseryman in Bethnal Green in 1816 - probably Victoria Park - where my brother lived and worked 150 years later, without knowing. Regards, Kathy

I live in North Weald Bassett in Essex. One of my lines goes back to a Thomas Bridges who died here in 1842. His children were born in North Weald in 1808, 1809 and 1810. My fathers family come from Stapleford Tawney, a village about 5 miles away and I can trace them back to C1769. Another line from Loughton again within 10 miles goes back to 1764. All but one of my lines originate from Essex. The earliest i can get to is C1620 in Great Dunmow about 25 miles away. Bob