I've managed by sheer luck on contacting a 5th cousin removed doing same research to get down to year Wiliam Neal born Etwell Derbyshire. {Neals are scattered not only in UK , but USA {My branch here is my granddad's eldest brother Alfred born 1848} also found in Australia {These NEAL'S were not prisoners}.
Anyway When My cousin asked me "Did I know anything at all beyond grand father Neal"? Well. no I did not, but jotting down what I did know, I noticed the hardest thing is to find out when they died, which helps a lot, if ones trying to find them on census.
Another problem I came across causing problems, is same first name, same year, same area.
Now William's wife is Margary Skellet or Scelett born 1564 Etwell, Derbyshire, England, Probably when you get as far as this, our records are probably in Latin, or if written in Middle English, its difficult to find out exactly written, {but I've myself have not come across legal documents, except Birth and Marriage/death recent {i.e from 1837 onwards, in th UK.] Any enlightment on this far back, would be most welcomed Mr Barry Neal born 1939 Derbyshire, England.