EXPLANATION OF PERSONAL IDs

I use my own notation to uniquely identify all individuals in my research. These have been included in much of the family histories, descendant charts, and other information on this web site.

For example, 3X12. Here the 3 identifies the particular pedigree (see list below). X identifies the generation (see explanation below). 12 is a sequential number allocated to individuals of that generation within that pedigree, starting from 1 and working upwards as I record them.

The pedigree numbers allocated so far are as follows:

0 John of Froggatt, from 1532 Listing of Families in the Archdeaconry of Stafford

1 Descendants of William Froggatt (wife Ann), c. 1575 to 1637. The Staffordshire, Birmingham & Shropshire Froggatts.

2 Descendants of William Froggatt (wife Elizabeth), died 1591, at Froggatt. The Baslow Froggatts.

3 Descendants of Robert Froggatt (wife Elizabeth), died 1600, at Mayfield.

4 Descendants of Richard Froggatt (wife Barbara), married 1601, at Newton Grange, Mayfield

5 Descendants of Francis Froggatt of Nantwich, born c. 1640-50.

21 Froggatts of Old Bolingbroke & East Keal, Lincolnshire, 1589 to 1627

22 Froggatts of Worksop, Nottinghamshire

23 Froggatts of Westminster, London

If there is no pedigree number shown, then the individual relates to my line, number 1. Sometimes, I might put a leading zero on the single digit pedigree numbers.

Here I have to make a confession that shows a distinct lack of planning! When I started family history in 1978 on my Robinson line, I could only get back to 1714, and so called the oldest Robinson (my 6xgreat grandfather) A1, his children B1, B2, etc., and so worked forward from there. As I traced other lines back further than this generation, rather than have to change everyone's IDs (which would have been a nightmare), I decided to "wrap around" by calling the next earlier generation Z, their parents Y, and so on. Unfortunately this notation has had to stay with me. Therefore John Froggatt who was recorded in the 1532 Visitation is 0T1.

Of course, from time to time the generation system goes wrong as people are not always considerate enough to marry at the same age, or I might guess wrong when first allocating a letter to an individual who at that time is not tied in. Someone marrying a cousin once removed is particularly inconvenient! But it works quite well overall.

When allocating generation letters to a new pedigree or a so far unconnected person, I generally start with the oldest generation and adopt the following rule of thumb in terms of baptism/birth dates:

Froggatt Home page * Russell's Genealogical home page