A trip to Medieval England in search of Botsford family history...
For Manton Botsford, the question “Where did we come from?” sparked the journey of a lifetime, one that led him to trek through history in ancient English towns and relive life under royal rule by immersing himself in five-hundred-year-old documents. His quest: uncover Botsford family history.
Over seventy-five years have passed since the original research for Botsford origins was conducted in England. Now, with a quantum leap back in time for Botsford history, Manton has expanded the family pedigree and identified many probable relatives living on Chalgrave Manor during the sixteenth century, with some records indicating their presence as early as the fourteenth century.
For genealogical researchers and history buffs, Journey to Chalgrave offers a wealth of information about Botsford family roots. Journey to Chalgrave quotes at length Chalgrave Manor court rolls, in translated Latin and Early Modern English, and analyses the source materials' findings to illustrate details of what life was like for Botsford ancestors in the sixteenth century. These documents not only give readers a glimpse of previously unknown Botsford family members, but also illustrate the roles they played in everyday life in 1500s England.
Journey to Chalgrave also lifts the veil on the method of genealogical research. Along every step of his meitculous study, Manton discusses his successes and failures in tracking down ancient documents and relative with name variations. Through his own odyssey of research, readers learn the best avenues of discovery. Whether you're a Botsford, a Bottysford, a Bottisford or a member of another clan, Journey to Chalgrave is a wonderful exploration of the family tree.