Where's the Social History??

[TaffyBlue]

I have read a lot of posts, with people describing their ancestors having worked in certain places earning xx amount of money, and the conditions they lived in were poor, etc.

Where do you find this information?

I am gathering information on my ancestors.  I have the basic BMD info, but would like more interesting facts about what life was like for them, where they worked, what they earned, things that were happening at the time, that sort of thing.

Can anyone suggest any good web sites or books where I can find this information?

Many thanks in advance of your replies 

[kerryb]

You have my sympathy, I have just recently started on this aspect myself. 

One site I keep forgetting about which is invaluable is the national archives http://www.a2a.org.uk/[url].  I recently searched on the surname of one of my families and came up with loads of information about properties they had rented and sold plus for one guy, a farmer an auctioneer's records of machinery and household goods auctioned just after his death.  I would love to know why it was auctioned off and not passed to one of his sons!

Very interesting and revealing.  It's worth looking at the site because it can bring up some really interesting stuff.

Kerry

[TaffyBlue]

Whoa.  Thanks for the link Kerry.  I just put a surname in and came up with 71 catalogues with multiple hits in each.  Got some reading to do!! 

[suttontrust]

A great deal of social history comes from the censuses.  You can see from the occupations and addresses the sort of lives people lived.  It's relatively easy to get information on a particular area, from books as well as websites, and you can research particular occupations.  You may not get specific information on your people, such as Kerry describes, but you can certainly read around their lives - and that's the most interesting part of family history.

[TaffyBlue]

Hi Suttontrust,

I have the basic census info, and am trying to fill in the 10 year gaps in between.  But, a good idea to research the actual jobs they did. 

Another reason is because in 1868, for a reason currently unknown to me, my 2xgt grandparents and their new son upped and left Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and headed for Bermondsey, London.

[Keith Bateman]

Hi TaffyBlue,

That was what really got me going - I started thinking it was all about names and dates!!

And without wishing to plug my website  - ( yes I do!!) - thought I knew everything about the dates my ancestors moved - but never WHY!!

Have a look here and see:
http://batemans-history.rootschat.net/preconceivedideas.htm

Cheers

Keith

[TaffyBlue]

Hi Keith.

Nice plug!! 

It's a great looking site.  I had a quick read through a couple of bits but will come back to it, as my eyes are going square on Ancestry at the moment!

I read your life story of James Bateman, and that is exactly the sort of thing I would like to do.  I apologise, but I did have a chuckle at your comment about young Eddie, known as Dick, living as their daughter!    It was also nice to read that they holidayed in Llandudno.  I live in North Wales, and it's unusual to see local place names in stories.

Thanks again. 

[Keith Bateman]

Hi TaffyBlue,

Sorry about the Plug 

But it was only after reading Kerry's website and others - that I realised that I wanted more than just dates and places!!

You can learn a lot at looking at census returns - when/where children were born - (ie so no 1 child was born in one place and others were born elsewhere - so they moved!) why - bigger house - more money? - and off you go on finding the answers!

Llandudno was ALWAYS my favorite place - had some great times there.
Another plug - but just shows you - have a look at the last photo -it looks just like me 50 odd years ago!!
http://batemans-history.rootschat.net/wheniwasyoung.htm


Cheers

Keith

[MaryA]

As well as A2A the National Archives have more documents http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ which is where I got some discharge papers for soldiers in the Napoleonic Wars.

I'll meet you for a cuppa in Llandudno in July 

Mary