I am Cecil descendant in the US. Looking for any information on which of the Cec

Question:Time period: 1600-1700's. In my research, it seems like it was a Thomas Cecil, but
I have no clue!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Time period: 1600-1700's. In my research, it seems like it was a Thomas Cecil, but
I have no clue!

What you need to do is to trace your family starting with yourself and work back. Don't pick up a particular Cecil and work down to you.

The same surname can come from more than one nationality and not everyone with the same surname is necessarily related or share ancestors.

Therefore you have to be very methodical and go back one generation at a time, documenting your information.

You can start by getting as much information from living family as possible, particularly your seniors. Tape them if they will let you. They might have some confusion on some things but what might seem to be insignificant story telling might be more significant than what you think.

Your public library should have a genealogy section. Check it out. They might have a subscription to Ancestry.Com which has lots of records and is obtaining more all the time. They have all the censuses through 1930. The 1940 and later are not available to the public yet.

Now, please don't take as fact everything you see in family trees on any website, free or paid. The information is user submitted and most are not documented. You might see different information on the same person from different submitters then you will see the same information repeatedly by many different submitters without documentation. A lot of people copy without verifying. Use the information as clues as to where to get the documentation.

A Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church has records on people all over the world, not just on Mormons. In Salt Lake City, they have the world's largest genealogical collection. Their Family History Centers can order microfilm for you to view for a nominal fee.

I have never had them to try and convert me or send their missionaries by to ring my doorbell. I have not heard it happening to anyone that has availed themselves of their resources.

You need court records, wills, deeds. etc.

You need vital records, births, deaths, marriages. Now each state has it own laws and regulations about when you can obtain them and how.

Governing bodies as a rule, before the first quarter of the 20th century, were not recording vital information. Most of the information will be found in churches, baptisms, marriages, deaths.

Good Luck!