How far back have you gone?
A very common question which needs answering in the context that for each generation one goes back, the number of ancestors doubles. The first generation starts with oneself with two direct ancestors and by the eighth generation there are 256 direct ancestors. So, in answering the question, there are a lot to choose from! A simpler answer can be given by following only the two direct lines, the paternal and maternal. The Lee line ends at Henry Lee, born 1801-02 at either Bolton or Horwich. The maternal line ends at Agnes More born sometime around 1818, probably somewhere in Fife.
The farthest back we have gone with a known birth date is Robert Crompton, baptised on 20th March 1732 at St. Peter's parish church, Bolton to parents Robert Crompton and Ann (Hannah) Morris.
The listing below gives the end of each known line, grouped on great grandparents:
Henry Lee
Mary Parker (Edward Parker and Ellen Entwistle) 1807 Bolton
Henry Lee 1801 Bolton
Ellen Parkinson 1800 Bolton
Robert Whalley (James Whalley and Ann Crompton) 1780 Bolton
Alice Parkinson (Thomas Parkinson and Elizabeth Croasdale) 1774 Bolton
Ann Crompton (Robert Crompton and Betty Grundey) 1760 Bolton
Robert Crompton (Robert Crompton and Hannah Morris) 1732 Bolton
Hannah Roberts
Samuel Roberts (Job & Mary Roberts) 1820 Flintshire
Mary Taylor 1789 Withington
Thomas Hague 1788 Withington
William Kirkham
Mary Wood (Robert and Ellen Woods) 1820 Bolton
Mary Mort (John Mort & Sarah Holt) 1811 Bolton
John Kirkham 1809 Turton?
William Rothwell (John Rothwell & Betty Sergeant) 13th Dec 1796 Hindley
Martha Banks 1791 Wigan
Mary Alice Wright
Edward Wright 1818 Preston
Mary Allison 1813 Salford
Hannah Dobson (John Dobson and Alice Spencer) 1811 Preston
William Clegg (Joseph and Betty Clegg) 1798 Bolton
George Thom McDonald Anderson
Ann Thom (John Thom and Margaret Gibson) 1801 Slains
William Anderson (William Anderson and Janet Reid) 1797 St Fergus
Elizabeth Scott (William Scott and Elizabeth Rainie) 1794 Rathen
David McDonald 1777
Jean Davidson (William Davidson and Christian Davie) 1777 Skene
William Anderson (William Anderson and Elizabeth Dargie) 1768 St Fergus
Margaret Gibson (Andrew Gibson and Ann Innes) 1768 Ellon
Alexanderina Copland
Robert Copland (Alexander Copland and Janet McIntosh) 1841 Aberdeen
Ann Shirrefs (Mary Henderson and William Sherriffs) 1838 Aberdeen
Mary Henderson (Andrew Henderson and Mary Paterson) 1815 Aberdeen
Ann Lumsden (George Lumsden and Elizabeth Alexander) 1777 Chapel of Garioch
Robert Copland (William Copland and Jean Patterson) 1770 Keig
Andrew Henderson (Andrew Henderson and Jean Wisheart) 1766 Foveran
Ann Robertson (Thomas Robertson and Isabel Robertson) 1762 Aberdeen
James Valentine Adamson
Margaret Moore (John Moore and Jane Wilkinson) 1835 Ireland
James McDonald (Alexander McDonald and Christian McIntyre) 1816 Dull
Mary McGregor (David McGregor and Mary Hepburn) 1816 Aberdalgie
Elizabeth Valentine (David Valentine and Janet Ogilvie) 1812 Panbride
Andrew Adamson (James Adamson and Margaret Burns) 1808 Rattray
Mary Hepburn (Peter Hepburn and Ann) 1785 Forteviot
Agnes Moir McDonald
Agnes Simpson (James Simpson and Agnes More) 1846 Auchterderran
James Simpson (David Simpson and Mary Valentine) 1819 Leslie
Mary Valentine (John Valentine and Mary Gourley) 1795 Markinch