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Trying to trace an ancestor born "Around 1677". Microfiche entries are illegible,any suggestions,please?

I've traced my family tree back to a Thos;Woodward,born in Ellastone,Staffs;UK,"Around 1677".The microfiche in County archives is annotated to the effect that many entries in the relevant parish register are spoiled,actually they're missing or obliterated. Can anyone kindly suggest how else the records might be traced? Thanks.

Public Comments

1. you can join some of your local historical societies.the will do some free searches . also the national archives. also join ancestry.com, they have made it much easier in tracing ancestors that far back. go to my family.com for free- join the email alerts for UK searches, post an query! www.familysearch.com-free searches by the LATTER DAY SAINTS churches
2. There is a Thomas Woodward born 1677, Ellastone Staffordshire listed on Genesreunited, if you are not the owner of the tree and haven't done so already, you could perhaps contact them to see if they have more information.
3. http://www.ancestry.co.uk Thomas Woodward Birth: 1677 ,Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom Death: Married: Ann Birth: 1677 ,Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom Death: Children: Samuel Woodward --b. 1706 ,Staffordshire ; Married MARY MOULD (b. Birth: 1700 ,Staffordshire ). http://www.familysearch.org Thomas Woodward Birth: About 1677 Of, Ellastone, Stafford, England In this one, no specific area is listed, but DOES show parents' names: Thomas Woodward Birth: About 1677 Of, , , England Death: 1740 Father: Richard Woodward SR. Mother: Jane Petty There are 5 other listings, too, but not in Staffordshire: 1. THOMAS WOODWARD--b. 28 JUN 1677 Marshfield, Gloucester, England 2. Born: About 1677 E Newlyn, , Cornwall, England 3. Born: 13 APR 1677 Ramsey, Huntingdon, England 4. Born: 30 MAR 1677 Ledbury, Hereford, England & 5. Christened: 31 MAR 1677 Ledbury, Hereford, England =same person (same parents--EDWARD WOODWARD & SARAH listed) http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com has this one listed. Closest birth year listed on this site: Birth: 1674 Christening: 25 Jun 1674 Easton, Northampton, England Father: Thomas WOODWARD b: 1629 c: 19 Apr 1629 in Easton, Northampton, England Mother: Ann CUE b: Abt 1639 in Of Easton, Northampton, England Marriage 1 Elizabeth BROWN b: Abt 1683 in Of Easton, Northampton, England Married: 4 May 1704 in Easton, Northampton, England Children: 1. Mary WOODWARD b: 1704 c: 29 Jan 1704 in Easton, Northampton, England 2.Elizabeth WOODWARD b: 1706 c: 1 Sep 1706 in Easton, Northampton, England 3.Brown WOODWARD b: 1708 c: 11 Jun 1708 in Easton, Northampton, England 4.Martha WOODWARD b: 1709 c: 18 Mar 1709 in Easton, Northampton, England 5.Thomas WOODWARD b: 1711 c: 10 Dec 1711 in Easton, Northampton, England 6.Alice WOODWARD b: 1713 c: 20 Jan 1713 in Easton, Northampton, England 7.John WOODWARD b: 1715 c: 6 Nov 1715 in Easton, Northampton, England 8.Ann WOODWARD b: 1721 c: 8 May 1721 in Easton, Northampton, England
4. If you are looking for the ORIGINAL record.. then that would be the parish register, which was kept at the time of the actual event. Reality says that not all original records are going to have survived 300+ yrs, and the note is already stating that there are gaps in that record. Assuming you have ALTERNATE and confirmed info (name of wife, for example) then wills would be another original record. You may find that he inheirited from his inlaws, on behalf of the wife. Or, if you have a solid document PROVING him to be a sibling to someone, then you might investigate what documents survive concerning him/ her. You have to be very cautious when you get back that far, and find info online, especially submitted trees. Without an actual record.. many persons will use an estimated date, perhaps using the known birth of an eldest child. This can be WAY off.. not all men became fathers at a young (or even medium) age. If you have (say) tombstone data that he died in 1725 "aged 47".. then the estimate can be valid. Don't overlook that in the 1600s and 1700s, people tended to use the same exact names for sons (ie for a grandfather and it is possible to have 3 men with the same name (cousins), all in the same geographical area. If this family was notable in any way.. you might luck out to find published records. In short... research in this time frame can be very tricky. Be meticulous with your documents and whether you accept the documents/ statements of other sources.