Introduction to the Kesterton Master Generation Genealogy Database
April 2007: I have been away from this project for almost 20 years. It
began as a hunt for origins and a study of the influence of the past on
the present. Like many researchers, I found it to be never-ending and
disruptive. A few collaboraters, early on, abruptly halted all research
and correspondence upon finding that it had eroded their attention to
their lives and family. As exciting as it is -- digging up debris from
the past -- there is no end to it.
I liked the idea of collecting, organizing, and presenting material. This
project was an opportunity to design a format that would give the maximum
benefit of providing a big picture in a brief space. I also wanted to be
available to other Kestertons as a repository. I did not like the
idea that when solitary Kestertons passed away, information and
collectibles at their fingertips would be lost, only to be disposed of in
a fireplace or dumpster.
Now, twenty years later, with better data storage and communication at our
means, the methods of dealing with this information is easier. I like the
idea of reformating it for the Internet and adding links to display items
like certificates. I also like the idea of having significant photographs
scanned and stored digitally for inclusion on DVDs or on the Internet
itself. In the past, before home computers, photographs were "given" to
emigrating relatives, "stolen" by selfish visitors, and ultimately never
reproduced. Eventually they were lost. In some cases, photographs exist,
but nobody thought to record the names, the places and the dates.
Here is the original introduction from 1988 that explains the contents of
the KMG.
August 1988:
Kesterton Master Generation:
This document is primarily a RESEARCH TOOL rather than a manuscript
intended for publication. Assumptions abound and errors are present.
Civil Registration spellings are not always correct, and should not be
considered as the final word. The format and appendices are intended for
cross-referencing (to detect transcription and other errors), and may not
be complete in all parts.
[2007 note: appendices are not included here]
Changes:
The printout is expanded from 16 characters per inch to 20 cpi. This gives
more space for supplementary "fate" details and eliminates the Parish
Codes. The "fate" area gives an immediate view of what happened to a
child; did he or she die young or marry? The Francis/Frank and Mary/Maria
headings have been split into separate listings. The identity numbers now
contain Parts to each group. This allows for easier updates and more
accurate locating of individuals. Many detailed records, such as marriage
data from parish entries and certificates, are now inserted in the main
alphabetical index, so that they can be viewed immediately. Additional
detailed information may be added later, such as biographies and wills;
however, some personal information of recent individuals has been withheld
[suicides and divorces].
Identity Numbers are in the form 1X-4907. "1" is the group, "X" is the
branch or Part of that group, "49" is the generation, ["50" represents an
individual born approximately 1930 - 1950; his parents would be "49" and
his children would be "51"], "07" is the seventh individual of a
generation, though this number can be out of sequence. The identity
numbers are merely a convenience to distinguish one individual from
another, and may be updated at any time.
Source Codes:
* Personally Supplied information [chance of error is large] par Parish [Church] entry
ecr English Civil Registration Index cen Census pro Probate
dir Directory elc Electoral Roll new Newspaper Index or article
clo Close Rolls inq Inq. El. ffn Feet of Fines
tth Tithe arm Army mis Miscellaneous [identified]
Items:
A Ancient Transcription B, M, D Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate from Civil Registration
P, W Probate or Will Details m marriage details from Parish [Church] entry
p Photograph s Signature
& Personal [diaries, letters, bibles, biographies, etc.]
Because this document is a massive and exhausting enterprise, I have not
been able to add or maintain a list of contributors, what each has
contributed, which records have been searched, what archival material
survives and in whose hands. Because of the immense difficulty in
maintaining these files in their present form, and my limited time and
printing facilities, I can not readily reproduce this document or its
parts on a regular basis to maintain complete, revised versions.