Genealogy Chat

Hi All, I have been researching my family tree for some time now and went to Bath at the weekend to search their Parish records to find some more rellies. I seem to have come to a stop... My oldest ancestor was Christened in 1808 (Paul Snelling, Walcot St Swithens, Bath) and I managed to get the names of his parents, the problem is I can't seem to find anything prior to 1808... Have I come to the end?? Does anyone know of any further resoucres I could use to help me search back further for his parents birth/marraige details?? Thanks, Ray

Oh Ray NEVER - wonder why there was nothing before 1808? Did they move to the parish from somewhere else? In which case you could try to find settlement certificates for them?

are these yours - from the IGI? WILLIAM SNELLING Male Family Event(s): Marriages: Spouse: FRANCES LOZZELL Family Marriage: 18 DEC 1788 Saint Michael, Bath, Somerset, England

Hi Heather, I have never come across Settlement certificates before. Where would I be able to view them? Thanks, Ray

Hi Jess, I havement managed to go back that far so I'm not certain... I know that Paul Snelling's father was called Joseph Snelling and he married a lady called Anne. Thanks, Ray

I guess you could email the Bath office to find out if they have any there. I didnt know anything about them til some kind soul on here mentioned them. If people moved from one parish to another then they had to have a certificate to say if they became a burden on the new parish their old one would take them back. With that info in hand I managed to trace my GGPx4 (whose marriage I still havent found!!) moving from one parish to another only about a mile away in 1763. But at least that gave me a better time scale for the marriage, as the certificate mentions no children only 'any child or children they may have in future'.

Hi Heather, Many thanks for the advice. I shall contact Bath record office to see what they have. You've put me back on my feet now... THANKS!! All the best, Ray

I am waiting for Bath BMD to start adding deaths on line. They have completed all their marriage registers and nearly finished births so should be starting soon. I think if you try Bristol family history society someone will do a memorial inscription search for a small fee. I found a lot of my ancestors that way in the days before the internet. They would also look for a marriage. (It used to be Avon family history society so covers Bath. )

I was feeling all a bit fed up a few weeks back, seemed to have dead ends everywhere and the lovely people on here chivvied me along. In fact when I went and looked person by person through my tree there were lots of leads I hadnt pursued. I dont know what Id do without this ongoing hobby! I always remember what Brenda said once - that a hot stuff professional genealogist said to her 'If you cant find them you are just not looking in the right places'. That always gives me a bit of heart!