Hi.
I have been researching my family tree for the last 30 years. Short bursts of energy followed by long spells of nothing.
I have tried following the line on both the maternal and paternal sides, and all of the ancestors that I have traced have been English, but that could just mean that those that I have not been able to trace were immigrants.
My earliest trace is my gt gt gt gt grandfather Richard Balding/Baldwin who was born in 1758 at Thatcham. He and all of his sons and sons-in-law were barge masters or wharfingers along the Kennett and Avon canal.
I have over 3000 individuals on my database to whom I am vaguely related, but I am always trying to expand the connections and find other living relatives (sometimes 4th or 5th cousins).
I will look into the correct method of how to ask for help, but in the meantime if anyone knows where I would be able to find any records of the people who worked on the barges and canals of Berkshire/Wiltshire I would be grateful to receive any advice.
Hopefully this is the start of a beautiful friendship.
Nick1412