Tracing Your Ancestors from 1066 to 1837 by Jonathan Oates

Author:Jonathan Oates
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: REF013000
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781844684137
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2012-07-18T16:00:00+00:00

The Annual Register, 1797. Author’s collection.

A similar publication was The Annual Register, first published in 1758 and still in publication at the time of writing. However, as its name suggested, it was annual, unlike the monthly Gentleman’s Magazine. It did, as ever, include births (parents’ names and sex of baby, with date), marriages and deaths of the better off in society. Promotions in the armed forces and church are also listed, though selectively. In its ‘Domestic Occurrences’, it lists news, often including violent deaths and murderous attacks. However it is not well indexed and includes a great deal of foreign news. It can be seen at TNA and some libraries.

In 1785 The Times was first published, and this has the advantage that it can be searched online. Initially it was four pages long and was published daily, Sundays excepted. It carried far more detail than the newspapers of the earlier part of the century. Property adverts were a major feature and often detail the contents of the house, listing furniture and objects therein. As ever, births, deaths and marriages were included. Trials of criminals were given in far more detail than had been the case hitherto. Civil cases were often printed on the front page, with cases before the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of King’s Bench. Again, these were detailed, though not verbatim, accounts of the cases heard in court, with synopses of evidence and legal arguments. Bankrupts are listed, though briefly, as in the following example from 1829, ‘Joseph William Coe, Bath, silk mercer, June 18, 19, July 17th at the Bankrupts’ Court, Basinghall Street, solicitors Messrs Stokes and Hollingsworth, Cateston Street’.

Local newspapers carried as much international and national news as other periodicals, with very little local news. What little there was was contained in a section headed ‘Country News’, meaning news of events outside London. Newspapers often cut and pasted news from other newspapers to include in theirs. They were often only two or four pages long, with almost no pictures. Advertisements, then as now, take up much of each newspaper. These are often for property, listing the seller, but also for other goods. Sometimes theatrical performances are advertised, giving company members. Bankruptcies are listed. So too are women who have fled their husbands, with the latter stating that they will be no longer responsible for their departed spouse’s debts!

The best single source, though far from comprehensive for the local press, for newspapers in the UK is the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale, a short walk from the tube station. Some of the newspapers have been microfilmed but many are still available in paper format. These newspapers are listed on their website, so you can determine what they have and for which dates (it is possible to search by title and place). The British Library itself at St Pancras holds a fine collection of national newspapers from 1625–1800, all of which is microfilmed. The Bodleian Library also has collections of local newspapers, too. County

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