how to find out name of farm and people employed on it?

[Ahmed_U]

Hi Ahmed-U

Alan Clarke here has a mention on his Mercury Index to Weekley Mills?

http://www.northants-familytree.net/1843.html under Bollard Samuel

NORTHAMPTON THE BURGLARY AT MRS. GURNEYS
BOLLARD SAMUEL WEEKLEY MILLS NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

It may mention where they were.

Sandy

Sorry for sounding stupid, but I am confused!

What information might I be able to get from this link? Should I purchase the article? What is the relationship between Bollard Samuel and John Stevenson?

Thank you.

Ahmed

[Ahmed_U]

Thankyou, Sandy


http://www.midlandhistory.bham.ac.uk/issues/1998/moorecrj.pdf

Thank you for this, seems like an interesting read!

Ahmed

[winston]

HI Ahmed_U

You may also wish to take a look at this website


http://www.boughtonhouse.org.uk/villages/weekley/tour.htm


Wendy

[willow154]

Hi Ahmed,

If you have access to ancestry, you can look (using a name search) at the UK City and County Directories. If you don't, then it's available free at most libraries.
However, there is another site which allows you to search the historical directories in different way - this can be useful if you want to search a town or village, without a name. You can look at places and see all sorts of information - description of the place, gentry, clergy, officials, public buildings, tradesmen, etc - sometimes in bigger places there is a street directory listing streets, and addresses of people who live there.
This is the site (and it's free!):
www.historicaldirectories.org
The best way to learn how to use it is to have a play - but if you're totally confused, just yell and we'll help.

I suggested the genuki site, for this reason - if all fails, and you don't find much, then the person who has been collecting information on Stevenson families in the area might have come across, and written down, sites about where they lived, family connections, farms, trades, etc and might know where to look for information in connection with your Stevenson family + people who worked for them.
I know that I sometimes see names or places which I've come across in my own research; although the information isn't relevant to my own family history, it jumps out at me later when I see someone else is looking for those names and places, and I can sometimes help them.
Just a 'wild card' really - when I'm desperate I'll try anything!  Hope this now makes sense.

Hope you don't have any problems with the directories, Ahmed. Even if you don't find the site useful this time I am sure it will prove very useful later.
Good luck.
Paulene


Wendy,
They are lovely sites - thank you

[Ahmed_U]

HI Ahmed_U

You may also wish to take a look at this website


http://www.boughtonhouse.org.uk/villages/weekley/tour.htm


Wendy

Thank you!

[Ahmed_U]

Hi Paulene,

You have been most helpful, and I appreciate it. I am very new to genealogy - I'm in fact tracing the family tree of a very close friend of mine from Canada. Her maternal grandfather was adopted as a 2 year old baby and sailed to Quebec in 1902. My friend's mother is 82 years old and showing signs of dementia, so I am really doing this partially for her mother (as she is interested in her past - only thing is, her dementia often makes her confused    ), for my friend, and also for myself, because my friend means so much to me that it is as if I am researching my own family!
Currently, all I do is search ancestry and findmypast for censuses. I also order BMD certificates from GRO. And of course, I come here for help! 
I do intend to go to Huntingdon next month and do some research there, as I think that would help, if I could see parish records at hand, and I would also like to drive around the surrounding villages and see them for myself.

I am not really familiar with genuk, or other sites. Your link to historicaldirectories is very interesting. Stupid question time, lol - are Post Office directories basically directories that the post office had to keep track of where to deliver mail to people?

Thank you.

Ahmed

[willow154]

Hi Ahmed,

I noticed you've been posting threads, and thought you seemed very keen - I reckon you must bee picking up lots of new skills already. (I'm relatively new to it all, compared with lots of people on here - been doing mine just over three years). We're all learning on rootschat - wonderful site, isn't it!

Your question about the Post Office directories wasn't stupid at all - I had to look for the answer, myself! Found it on the site I gave you - www.historicaldirectories.org.
If you go on the 'home' page you will see a list on the left hand side - click on 'history notes'. This will bring up a new page.
On the new page click on 'using directories' and this will tell you all about it + gives other useful information, too.

If you go to Huntingdon make sure you have an idea what to look for before you go. It can be a bit overwhelming on the first visit, but you'll soon get used to how things work; and staff are usually very helpful, especially when they know you are new to it all. I'm siure you will be fine! It's great to see original documents, wills, etc first-hand.

Most of my own research has been in Nottinghamshire Archives (where I'm from originally) and a little in Staffordshire. The Staffordshire bit is harder, as I don't drive, so sometimes I'll go to the Society of Genealogists in London, as they have lots of parish registers and information for the whole country under one roof - much easier to get to from Peterborough, by train, than Stafford, etc! Doesn't help though when it comes to tithe maps, etc, though
At least you're nearer The National Archives at Kew - I found I spent so much time getting there it didn't leave a great deal of time to research a great deal. Pity!

Anyway, I am digressing, Ahmed. As I said previously, ask away - it's great to see someone so interested.
I think your friend is blessed with a truly wonderful one herself!
Take care,
Paulene

P.S. I don't know if you have this already, but this will tell what is available at Huntingdonshire Archives.  Hope you have a wonderful time!
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/visiting/crohuntingdon.htm

[hiraeth]

Hi Ahmed

I looked at the 1861 census pages for Grafton Underwood, which was Enumeration District 8b.  On ancestry if you look above the actual census image you can click on the district link and then read the actual enumerator's route.  It says "The whole of the parish of Grafton Underwood, including Stevenson's Lodge and Lewin Lodge Parsonage Farm, two uninhabited houses newly built, and Grafton Wood" 

The first page of the district 8b lists Lodge Farm with John Joseph Stevenson, Farmer of 330 acres and the next listing it says Lodge Rectory Farm, with Samuel Jeffrey Lewin, Farm Bailiff of 260 acres.  So roughly 600 acres side by side.   In 1861 the inhabitants of Grafton Underwood numbered 292 people plus 2 visitors - many of them were ag labs  its a fair bet that several of them worked on these two farms as together both farms employed 13 men and 8 boys. 

I wasn't able to find an 1860 map on old-maps uk but if you go to http://www.old-maps.co.uk and input coordinates 491900 280500 on an 1886 map you will see Grafton Underwood as it was then.  There is a Rectory Lodge farm and Warkton Lodge Farm adjacent to it.   Stevenson's Lodge may have become Warkton Lodge Farm by 1886.

The old-maps site will also help you find the corn mill site at Weekley in 1886 at co-ordinates 489000 28400.

The modern day reference for the Rectory Farm is SP915 805
http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm

and for Weekley SP885 805

Hope this helps!
Heather

[Ahmed_U]

Hi Paulene,

Thank you for your reply!

I was not aware of the Society of Genealogists - that's another one I am sure I can make use of in future. As you say, it can be overwhelming, and that's the stage I am at the moment!
Yes, I am extremely close to Kew (10 minutes drive), but I haven't made use of them at the moment, largely because I would not know what to do when I get there!

Thank you for the link - I am looking forward to going to Huntingdon, as the closest to that area I have been is Cambridge, so I definitely am looking forward to exploring the area and the surrounding villages of Bythorn and Pertenhall.

Ahmed