Originally posted by PuterMan
That is a rare thing to have a maintained family history over that period of time. Most people find it difficult to go back very far before the registration requirements began in July 1837, and depend on parish records and of course the LDS for futher information.
To get back to the 1600s using the parish records and LDS is rare, to have the gift of 1000 years is simple incredible.
I agree that this seems to be a rare regard among families. Why is it that so many did not keep an heirloom record book on their families? Were families split up, shipped out? Did they lose touch or get redistributed in other areas? Shouldn't the book of Genesis have been an example of the importance of keeping up with the 'begats'? Why did most people of the past 1000 years not maintain some articulation of their family tree?


my family has tended to take the path of scholar or master craftsman, and general drunk while never much leaving the area they where born
into.. and if they did leave they've always returned. 



