Sources
This page lists the main sources used in this ONS (One Name Study). Thankfully many original sources have now been scanned and mbeen made available on genealogy websites. Originally the main route into these documents was via Ancestry.co.uk but my preferred site is now Findmypast.co.uk. While the former generally has clearer images of census documents and the ability to share trees, the transcriptions on Findmypast seem to be more accurate. In addition they now have many transcripts and scanned images of Cambridgeshire parish records, an important source for this particular surname. Listed below some of the more useful sources that have been used:
- Births, Marriages and Deaths indexes from www.freebmd.org.uk
- Parish and census records from familysearch.org - this has some earlier parish record transcripts and has helped overcome blocks; it also has world-wide coverage
- Parish records for Cambridgeshire and Norfolk from the membership sections of the respective Family History Societies
- British census records for each decade from 1841 to 1911 - via Ancestry.co.uk and findmypast.co.uk
- Military records and information on assizes and deportations from The National Archives (UK).
- The British Newspaper Archive - a growing collection of scanned images which has recently been accessible from findmypast. The OCRed transcriptions (used for searching) are appalling but once you see the original image, it all becomes clearer. There are some interesting Yardy stories.
- 19th century trade directories for Cambridgeshire, Lancashire and Norfolk - from www.historicaldirectories.org
- ... and several more besides, as a result of specific searches. The notes and sources on trees give details of sources for specific facts.
This page last updated 22nd February 2013