Genealogy Chat

Having read 'The Seven Daughters of Eve', I'm trying to track back through all the female lines (as far as I can) to find out where I come from. I've got back as far as Mary Anne Towers who married Samuel Shambrook in Bramfield Herts in 1812. He was born in Benington Herts in 1794, but I can't find anything else on that side. Can anyone suggest anything please?

Jenny I think the next step would be to visit the Hertfordshire Records office (HALS = Herts Archives & Local Studies) in Hertford and look at their parish records. nell

Thanks I think that's probably the only way, I was looking for a magic answer I supposse. Jenny

There are still Shambrooks in the area. Our chimney sweep is one.

Sheleen If your maternal ancestors were Orthodox Jews, it should indeed be easier (in theory!) to trace your ancestors. Orthodox Jews take their Jewishness from their mothers. I believe extensive records are kept in Synagogues, although for obvious reasons, many Synagogues are reluctant to give access to these records, although I believe this is gradually changing. Don't forget also, that many people have denied their Jewish Origins and you might therefore find it very difficult to make a connection. I have just joined the Jewishgen site - not much use to me as there is only a vague suggestion in my family of Jewishness and no-one will admit to who it was! It is mainly an American site, but who knows? By the way, you are going to have to go a lot further back than 1798 for your mitochondrial DNA to point out where you came from - about 3,000 years, as far as I can make out! (Gosh, give me a look at your tree when you've done it, won't you???) Happy hunting and do let me know how you get on! Marjorie

Hi Marjorie Oh I know about the time scale, I was only thinking back as far as parish records were kept, that'll satisfy me. Jenny