Old Newspapers On Line

[Steve G]

  Just happened across this useful looking Link, from " Bitty_Matriarch ""; British Library; Old News Papers.

Looked useful. I fed it the search term " Gypsy* " and it came up with 1546 results! 

 Now I'm scared. Very scared. They ain't cheep!

[youngtug]

try this one;      http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search

[Steve G]

YoungTug; I've only ever known the London Gazette as a source of military medal awards. I never thought they'd concern themselves with the goings on of Travelling folk 

 That aside though; I've had a bit of a result, meddling with the one from the British Library!

 Just for a lark, I fed it BURGE. Got hundreds and hundreds of hits. Thought, " Sod that! " and tried again. Only, this time I was sly and fed it " BURGE HAWKER "

Guess what? One James Burge, Hawker, of Nailsea made the papers in 1888. He did so by trying to slaughter his wife!  Stabbed her to bits, then cut her throat! Then he tried to top himself but, as it transpires, blew it on both counts. She appears to have survived, as does he ~ no doubt till he swung for it!

 How's That for a quality piece of Family History, eh? Got any wifely throat slashers in your line up? 

[youngtug]

hi Steve G, It is not only medals and citations. Also you will find bankruptcy and wills plus alot more. Put in a name or place name in the advanced search. may not be any good for travelling folk as you say, but you never know what it will throw up. john.

[Steve G]

  John! You're my bloody hero! 'No good for Travelling folk'?!?  I tried " Burge " 1888 and got ..... well ... one was 'interesting'.

 Then I tried a straight, undated search on " Burge Hawker ". Talk about pay dirt!!!     

 And it's Goodnight from Me! I've got a LOT of 'So 'n so Burge; Travelling Hawker' stuff to plough through! Absolutely Amazing Results! Thank You! 

[youngtug]

my pleasure

[CitizenSmith]

Hi

I understand that the whole newspaper site and its contents can be accessed free in subscribing libraries.

That includes some major public libraries in the UK so it's worth checking if your local one offers this service. 

Best wishes

Sharon