Woo hoo I've made a start

[Kat the Cobbler]

I've been considering researching my family tree for years and I've finally made a good start. My uncle has been researching my mum's side so I don't have to worry about that. i just need to do my dad's side. I've managed to get back to my dad's grandad but not much further as dad doesn't know much about his grandparents. Any suggestions on where to take it next.

[Elin]

It sounds to me liek you now need to look up the census information to get the rest of the families who were living with them at the date of the census (taken every 10 years - 1861, 1871, 1881 etc and still going) They only release the information 100 years after it is taken so the latest one out is the 1901 one. From there find the birth & death certificates as they then tell you their parents etc, then find their certificates etc.

[Scrappy~Sarah]

Yes the census would be helpful, try also for a DOB and place of birth this will help isolate him in the census - also knowing siblings/parents will help with the census. hth

[Kat the Cobbler]

Dad seems to think we have his mum and dad's birth certificates in the house so that should help. I've looked on the census returns for 1901 and found my dad's grandad from both sides. I wasn't sure which documents to request to find out who was living in the house.

[Elin]

There's usually a button saying 'household' somewhere.

[Kat the Cobbler]

Thanks for the advice about the census. I've found out about my dad's great great grand parents and his grand parents. Not sure how I can go any further back than that now. Any ideas.

[GardenAngel]

Treenie - what year have you gone back to? Ancestry have the census records back to 1851 (1851, and every 10 years to 1901). Do you need a look up?

Kerry x

[Kat the Cobbler]

I've gone back to 1851 on both my dad's grandfathers (Miller from Lytham and Nicholson from Covington) I've ordered their birth certificates as well so I can find out the names of his grandmothers because he doesn't know and nor does his existing family (how weird is that). I've found out that the Millers are something to do with Lytham Lifeboat Station but i don't know what. I don't know this area very well and can't find anything on the internet.

[Elin]

Kat why don't you email/write to the lifeboat station and see if they have heared of the name or if they have a history of the station booklet you could buy? Of the stations I have seen they often have old generous benefactors - and often have a booklet about the station.

[Kat the Cobbler]

I've found a historial society in Lytham who are actually based in the same street as where my grandma's sisters were born so I emailed them and they're going to look into it for me.