NORMAN family of Charminster (early 1600s)

[NormanRoots]

Hello,

This is my first post to this forum. I'm an American, and I've traced my immigrant ancestor to Richard Norman, b. ca. 1580. He had children baptized in the church in Charminster, then he emigrated to Massachusetts ca. 1623 as part of the Dorchester Company.

My quest is to try to discover if he had Norman relatives who remained in England, and if so, whether the Norman surname of that line survives in England today. So, if you are a Norman living in Dorset (or have ancestors from there), I'd very much like to hear from you.

Thank you,
Ken Norman

[Geoffers]

Welcome to the B-G forums

In your research there are some things you might try to get you started.

1. Have a look at The National Archives web-site (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm) which has several good catalogues available.

First stop would be The Catalogue (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp) In the 'word or phrase field, enter 'norman AND charminster' (the AND must be in capitals). You'll get a couple of hits showing there is at least a connection with the area until the 19th century

Try expanding the search to 'norman AND dorset'

Next try Access to Archives (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/) - click on advanced search and you'll find that you can search the catalogue of Dorset History Centre.

Have a look at Documentsonline (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/default.asp) - you'll see a link 'wills' click on it and try searching the PCC wills - try

Last Name - Norman
Place - Charminster

You'll find a hit (You can pay to download this will - it costs £3.50 which I think is about 5 dollars, or thereabouts).

Try refining the search to expand the palce to Dorset.

There are other records in Documentsonline which show a connection between the name NORMAN and Dorset.

Have a look at Genuki (http://www.genuki.org.uk/) (It's a bit like USGENWEB) there's a series of pages for Dorset (http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/genuki/DOR/) which may have useful information.

Use a search engine to look for - opcdorset.org/
Which has extensive online records for the county.

Try contacting the Dorset Family History Society (It turns up using a search engine) to see if they have any members researching the same family.

Use a search engine to look for 'Dorset Surnames List' - most counties have at least one online list of people resaerching surnames in a given county

Mor recently there are census returns online via pay-per-view web-sites, e.g. findmypast, TheGenealogist, 1901censusonline, etc. So if you can trace siblings who remained in Dorset, by using parish registers, wills, musters, tax returns (Heath Tax Returns are very useful), forward to the 19th century, then you can use the census returns to track things forward to the 20th century, and then use directories, births, marriages and death certificates; and wills (along with other soruces) to track things forward to close to the present day

Good luck

[NormanRoots]

Geoffers,

I'm forever in your debt. Thanks for your kind reply with just the kind of help I need. I'm a fairly seasoned researcher, but I have almost no knowledge (until now) of the resources in the UK. The B-G forum is my first foray into that arena. I now have lots to explore, and you've saved me a lot of time I would have spent searching for outlets of information. Thank you, again.

Ken Norman

[Geoffers]

Glad to be able to give some pointers, the other source which you will need to use is local church registers, CofE parish and Non-conformist registers.

Non-conformis registers are available on BMDregisters or via TheGenealogist - Have alook at paragraph 6 of this research guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletID=84)

CofE parish registers are now normally held by county record offices, you might be able to access a copy via mormon church (LDS) record centres. Paragraph 5 of the above linked research guide gives some information. Dorset online parish clerk - opcdorset - may provide useful help here.

Using older documents may provide problems in understanding the handwriting - The National Archives (TNA) has a good guide n the subject - click here (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/reading-old-documents.htm)

If you need specific help or advice, please do ask

Good luck

[NormanRoots]

A small aside: I know it may seem I'm just shooting in the dark, but I actually know a priori that I have a living "Norman" cousin in England. It turns out I'm a close DNA match to a man in West Sussex whose grandmother bore his father out of wedlock (hence the surname difference). So, while I have a daunting task ahead of me, at least I know I'm not looking for something that isn't there. Now all I have to do is fill a 400-year gap!

Cheers,
Ken