Where did all the people (or records) go? (General)

by anthonyworgan , Monday, June 11, 2012, 14:13 (4551 days ago) @ Antipodean

I think it should also be stressed that finding ancestors should not be confined to just baptism, marriage or burial records. I have found ancestors (not recorded in these widely used resources) that have appeared in Wills, Marriage Allegations/Licences and of course not forgetting printed books on the Forest.

To illustrate this: one of my recent discoveries concerned Anthony Hitchins of Mitcheldean mentioned in 'Men & Armour for Gloucestershire in 1608' compiled by John Smith of North Nibley, Glos (1567-1641).
The Hundred of St Brevils - Michell Deane
Anthony Hitchins brodewever. 2.m.
So according to the legend at the beginning of the book, this meant that my ancestor was a broadweaver by trade, aged about forty, of middle stature and so able to use a musket.

From this, it is likely that Anthony was born circa 1570 and still alive circa 1610. He does not appear in the Forest baptism, marriage or burial registers, but it is likely that he was the father of another Anthony Hitchins of Mitcheldean who was buried at Blaisdon in 1678 along with his wife Elizabeth (buried Blaisdon 1669). No marriage entry survives of the couple, but some of their children are mentioned in the Mitcheldean and Blaisdon baptism registers. One of them being, another Anthony Hitchins, is mentioned in baptism, marriage and burial registers for Blaisdon and he also left a Will and Inventory. He is mentioned too in the marriage allegation/licence of his brother Edward (Hitchines)- whose baptism has not survived. Spelling variations of this family also present a challenge - Hitchins/Hutchings/& later Hitchens.
So I would add, spread your net wide and try to search everything.