64 Regency Ancestors

From 64 Regency Ancestors

Each of us has sixty-four great-great-great-great-grandparents, but only my children have the sixty-four here*. Rather than tracing back a long list of names, this site looks at the lives of one generation and offers a glimpse into British 19th century life. It delights me to think that, in the years leading up to the end of the Georgian Age in 1830, all of them were alive, spread out across this island from Edinburgh to Devon, and yet most of them did not know each other.

None of them is famous, but most are skilled tradesmen and/or literate, so they have all left records behind. Differing attitudes to illegitimacy; desperate attempts to be accepted into the middle classes; crime; national events; all form regular parts of their stories. Together they form a fascinating picture.

Have I been fortunate in being able to find out so much? Probably; although the number of unpromising starts that eventually lead to interesting places suggests that others could have similar success. That George Knott's biography is the longest and most detailed is probably down to the fact that it was the first to be written and had the most time spent on it, rather than for any other reason.

Richard Knott

Fuller biography; more details + background available

Less full biography; fewer records found/available

Brief biography; little written evidence

Biography started but not finished

Other biographies have not been started but are ready to be written down

I am happy for any information on this site to be used by others. All the research is original (with some helpful individuals on Rootschat finding a few important baptisms etc that eluded me), although I am used to some of it coming back to me as if discovered by others! I would be happy to hear of any errors that are spotted and delighted to now of any new information. In time all the evidence behind the biographies will be published.

In the short term any contact will need to be via 'RJKnott' on Rootschat or directly using rjk AT canford.com

• Actually only sixty-two as Richard Gibb and Barbara Watson appear twice.