I'm trying to find out more information on an ancestor from Ipswich, England. The time period would be about 1630 (likely approximate birthdate) - 1658 (when he was known to be in America). Does anyone know of any resources that might help?
Civil registration began in 1837 in England. Births, baptisms, marriages and deaths prior to that date were recorded in parish registers.
As you are such a distance from England, online resources would be best! A site I have used, http://www.ancestry.co.uk/, says it has "15 million birth, marriage, death, probate, and burial names from historical parish registers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland ranging from 1538 to 1837". That looks like a good place to start if you know the name of your ancestor.
This site explains a little about parish registers, and also tells you the diocese that Ipswich was a part of.
