Genealogy Chat

You know Ive had my sub for 4 or 5 years now and I only use it for bmd, Pallots and census info all the time. Occasionally foraging in the parish records.

I sent my distant cousin the link for the freebie 3 days and he just mailed me saying had I seen one of our common ancestors in the 18th century directories on there. NOPE I hadnt.

Just gone on there, entered his name in the search and up came the possible sources on the left hand column as usual. I clicked on directories then the 17th-19th century US and UK directories and blow me, there he is in about a dozen different entries. Not only that but it gives his full address in 1750 in Bermondsey. Gobsmacked. Ive spent a bit more time on there (more than I should, Im supposed to be typing out survey reports) and have found his son also in a later directory but with same address AND even more helpful, a change of business which points directly to how my direct ancestor married into a family with the same type of business.

Just shows you - you need new eyes now and then dont you. So all you old ancestry hands, have another look on there apart from census and bmds etc.

Heather

I've just used the BT phonebooks and have found some of my mother's distant cousins and relatives had a business that we didn't know about! Am about to check the directories.

Did you know about the website

www.historicaldirectories.co.uk

Its fascinating and its free!

Carole

Yes Ive used that one in the past - got entries for my GGF's cabinet makers business. I always find it a pain to navigate that site though.

I was really pleased with the finds on the 18th century directory though on ancestry, amazing - just got some more of the same family.

Think this is about my 3rd year with ancestry Heather. Every few months though I tend to go through it typing in the names of my ancestors to see what it throws up. Have found lots of new information on Parish Records and Trade Directories etc.

Have also use Historical Directories, and found it to be very useful, but you need lots of time and patience to use it!

nudge for future reference

Heather, you're a star. I had looked at the directories some time ago and found a family member subscribing to a partwork on the life of St John of chrystoson? (you can tell I'm religious can't you?)

Anyway, since then I have found another variant spelling of the name so I've checked again, thanks to your prompting and found another relative (possible ancestor)

I use Ancestry all the time...forever searching for links to my illusive Irish ancestors!

It was on their message boards that I found my 2 second cousins...One in the USA and another in Oz. Both descendants of my Irish grandfather's siblings!

Also made contact with another distant relitive in Canada. Her husband and myself share the same 3 x gt Grandparents on my father's side. His 2 xGt Grandfather is the brother of mine.

We've all swapped photo's, certificates and stories of our families past and present........ and still keep in touch.

I would never have found out so much about my relatives and ancestors if I hadn't subscribed to Ancestry and had access to USA census records and message boards. Great site...and so much new stuff being added all the time.

Heather, I'm the same as you. I've had my sub for about 4 years and only use a fraction of the site. I really should try digging a bit more.

Kath. x

I was looking at the court records on there for the 15th century in London - incredible detail, sounds just like today! Kid selling eels or something throws down some rubbish outside a blokes shop, assistant chases after said kid and whacks him so hard in a churchyard that he died - after getting up and stumbling off. Gives details of the way the blows were made, what they were selling - incredible, brings the period to life.

I would also add, do check out OldBailey online now and then. That is also brilliant for giving you a real taste of life. Ive had a few court cases on there involving my ancestors - always the claimants I should add! And also the Times brought up some lovely Customs cases involving one of my lightermen ancestors (oooo, he did tell fibs, but got away with it). Its so brilliant seeing the actual words they have said hundreds of years ago.

I used the WW1 pensions and I found out my grandfathers first wife's name and address from the next of kin info!!
No one in the family knew her name.

Thank you, Heather, for this great tip.

Bernadette

I'm guilty of not using ancestry to it's full potential, too. Only ever look at censuses and BMD's. I get easily confused with new avenues of search :-(

So thanks for this Heather. I'm nudging it for when I've a free few days(!) then I can nail some of my ellusive kin!

Bee.

Funnily enough I just went for another mooch on there and found one of mine with a bankruptcy notice in 1765!!!