The South Cotswolds Genealogical and Local History Guide Compiled by Graham Thomas FRSA |
Please note that sadly no research facility is available and queries are generally not answered unless they are very straightforward. My apologies for this but pressure of research work has led to this.
(Last update: April 2006)
The Alphabetical Index
The Alphabetical Index of subjects is listed below. To visit the
pages, please click on the headline or underlined words within
the text.
Alternatively, use the Internal
Search Engine
Aristocrats
and Gentry of Gloucestershire
If you are searching
for your blue-blooded ancestor, this is the place to start. You
can also find further aristocratic pedigrees at an on-line copy
of the Visitations to Gloucestershire
1623.
Avening
Church Monuments
A
detailed description of the church monuments in the beautiful
Early Norman church of the Holy Cross. There are also the names
from 20 or more headstones in the churchyard. Some of the
families recorded include Driver, Hill and Pavey, and you can
read the story of Henry Brydges the pirate, highwayman and
general bad egg.
Avening Names from 1291
These
names have been collated from various histories of the parish and
cover the period from the late 10th Century through to the early
19th Century. There is a list of rectors of the church from 1291,
and an early pedigree of the Sheppard family, the predominant
clothiers of the village.
Births, Marriages and Deaths
1)
This massive project has volunteers uploading information
from English births, marriages and death certificates from 1837 -
1900. Whilst not Cotswolds specific, I have found it helpful on
more than one occasion for locating elusive ancestors.
2) It's also possible to view on-line the whole Index of Births, Deaths and Marriages from 1837 to the present day. However you do have to pay for this service but it does give overseas visitors the chance to buy certificates in an efficient manner.
Books and
Ephemera for sale
An
external site for Ambra Books who specialize in the local history
of the West Country with a catalogue including over 80
antiquarian and second-hand books for Gloucestershire. The best
source of books for the County. (Please note I have no commercial
interest in this business).
Don't forget to use the Search Engine
Canals
A history of the
canals in the Stroud area. There is now a plan to restore fully the
two canals that link the Severn and the Thames with the project
completed by 2012.
Chavenage
Of
more interest to the historian than those searching for their
family history but a fascinating site dedicated to the beautiful
historic manor house of Chavenage. If you are in the area it is
well worth a visit. (Check opening times as it isn't
open every day.)
Cherington Church Monuments
A
detailed description of the inscriptions on the church monuments
in St Nicholas, a pretty church dating from 13th century. There
are records of 18 monuments from 1610 and more than 30 headstones
dating from 1732.
Cherington and
Tetbury: The Trouble House Inn
A
delightful site dedicated to the long history of this 18th
century haunted inn and some of the families associated with it.
These include the Harewells, Woolnoughs, Georges and Fowlers.
(Currently, the site is being rebuilt and is more limited in
scope).
Cotswold Sheep
If
your ancestors originated from the Cotswolds, there is a good
chance they were involved with the textile industry. This site
provides an excellent overview and history of the industry.
DNA testing
After all that
searching, are you related? This company is able to provide DNA
testing when you supply just a few snips of hair. It was first
recommended by Time magazine and I have tested it with complete
satisfaction.
This site focuses on the history of the town and includes everything from street scenes, churches, schools, transport, industry, personal recollections (audio), scenic views, old maps, a virtual tour of the complete town, - about 1500 pages in total. Being added soon, will be another thousand or so more photos as well as trade directory entries, census records, etc.
Eacott (Cirencester)
Another one-name
site but of interest for those who are researching their family
history in the Cirencester area. Besides much information
specifically pertaining to Eacott, there is general history
information as well.
Emigration
1.A new on-line and
free database of emigrants to America who passed through Ellis
Island between the years 1892 to 1924. The first time I logged
on, it worked and I was able to locate the records of ancestors
who travelled to the U.S. in the latter half of the 19th century.
Frocester Marriages
A pot-pourri of a
site that includes Frocester marriages, Didmarton marriages and
the Avening 1851 census.
Gloucestershire Census
If
you are trying to locate 19th century families in Gloucestershire
this used to be the best starting point on the web. Gordon
Beavington and his family have undertaken the project of
transcribing many of the census from 1851- which initially was
readily available and free to every one with access to the
web. Now, more limited transcriptions for the whole of 1851
Gloucestershire, Southern Warwickshire (Stratford on Avon
and South) and sections of 1851 Somerset and
Wiltshire are available. However a full set of CDs can be
purchased.
(Currently this site is unavailable.)
Gloucestershire Family History
Society
The
home-page for the GFHS.
Don't forget to use the Search Engine
Gloucestershire Family Names and
Distribution
A
comprehensive and exhaustive analysis of the history, occurrence
and distribution of family names in Gloucestershire. The analysis
starts from the 14th Century and includes a detailed overview of
the names in the 1881 Census and the families who migrated to
Australia.
In
addition, if you want to read a general but comprehensive
explanation of British surnames try this: Modern British
Surname Studies : a guide to resources.
Gloucestershire
Genuki
This
is the Gloucestershire home-page for the UK-wide on-line
resource. Essential visiting for everyone researching family
history in the County. This site is well maintained by Rosemary
Lockie and is regularly updated.
Gloucestershire
Links
1. A
frequently updated home page that provides a comprehensive source
of links covering many pages of interest for the family and local
historian as well as more general sites related to the whole of
Gloucestershire. Hosted by Stuart Flight.
2.
There is also another series of links at genealogylink.
3.
Nigel Batty-Smith has collated some excellent links for Gloucestershire and the West
Country
Gloucestershire Local History
This is the home
page for the Gloucestershire Local History Societies committee.
The Committee includes representatives from more than 40
organizations and meets regularly to discuss matters relating to
local history in Gloucestershire. It also seeks to promote the
study of local history in the county by the publication of
Gloucestershire History and by organizing regular meetings for
the public. They regularly publish on-line, an updated list of
talks that the societies will be holding. You will also find some
useful links to further information about the county.
Gloucestershire
Map from 1879
An
on-line, detailed map for the County. Interesting viewing but not
searchable. Other maps can be found on Gloucestershire Genuki
(above).
Hale Family History
Whist
you may not be directly interested in the name, the Hale family
history pages contain information on family history
research in Gloucestershire including a useful review of books on
the County.
Hawkesbury
A
web-site devoted to family history in Hawkesbury.
Hearth Tax
On line hearth tax
lists for villages including Woodchester, Rodborough and
Minchinhampton.
Historical
Documents
1.
It is possible to search the UK's Public Record Office Catalogue
to discover the documents they hold by typing in a village or
family name. Not surprisingly there are many which directly
relate to this part of Gloucestershire including full census
information.
Whilst
they cannot be viewed on the web, you can initiate the ordering
process. I have found this to be quick and easy, and the staff to
be helpful. You are now able to order - from anywhere in the
world - material that will be sent by post, fax or e-mail
dependant on the nature of the record. You don't need to pay a
researcher (me!) or commercial organization and much fascinating
information is available. Highly recommended.
2.
The 1901 UK Census is now on-line
but be patient, the site suffers from visitor overload and isn't
always easy to access.
3.
This commercial site offers indexes to Marriages, Wills, Witness
depositions & Apprentice records. These indexes and
abstracts, enables access to a vast fund of genealogical
material from the Society of
Genealogists, the foremost source of genealogical
information in the British Isles. Access costs £6 (approx.
US$9 ) allowing up to 150 records to be retrieved over 48 hours.
Horsley
An excellent on-line
history of Horsley.
King's Stanley Church Memorials
A
detailed transcription of most of the monument inscriptions in
the parish church of St. George. Families include Baghott,
Clutterbuck, Fowler, Hawker, Lusty, Marling, Paul and Wathen.
King's Stanley
Marriages 1573 onwards
Marriages
recorded in the Parish Registers. The marriages span from 1573 to
1677 with the first being that of John Flower to Catherine
Stratford which took place 10. August. 1573.
Minchinhampton Marriages 1566-1702 and
Church Monuments
Marriages
recorded in the Parish Records between the dates of 1566 and 1702
with added details of inscriptions on the tombs in the church
of Holy Trinity. The Marriages are taken from Volume 11 of
Gloucestershire Parish Registers-Marriages edited by W.P.W.
Phillimore and published in 1905.
Minchinhampton
Marriages 1703-1708
Marriages
recorded in the Parish Records between the dates of 1703 and
1708.
Minchinhampton Names from 1260
This
summary starts with the record given in the Domesday Book. There
are families and individuals from 1349; a list of the rectors of
the parish and the 1327 Subsidy Roll for Rodborough.
Minchinhampton District Pigot's Directory
1830
Pigot's
Directory records gentleman and tradesmen in the towns and
villages of Avening, Bisley, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth and
Woodchester. (See Trade Directories as well).
Nailsworth Names in History 1700 onwards
Nailsworth
was first created a parish in 1892. These names are largely taken
from Betty Mill's book 'A Portrait of Nailsworth'.
Nimpsfield Marriages 1679-1756
Nimpsfield
is a small village on top of the valley overlooking Nailsworth.
The first marriage is between Edward Ellets, widower and
Broadweaver to Susanna Bushel on 31st July 1679. The church of
St. Bartholomew was entirely rebuilt in 1861.
North
Cotswolds
This page now covers all of the
Cotswolds with researcher pages, parish church? images (660
churches done (from 5-37 images per church - interior and?
exterior - partner with John Wilkes of Cam, GLS - almost 700 web?
pages) There are now 715 census reports on my site mostly
Gordon's? (my distant cousin - and we are both in British
Columbia, Canada (not? bad when I host Blockley parish council's
site)) -over 280 researcher? pages. Also on my? site is a site
search engine which will search all content on my site? (on
Rootsweb I now have just under 11,000 web pages, documents,?
images. the search engine will also search the census pages on my
site.
Don't forget to use the Search Engine
Owlpen History
A fully
comprehensive history of the manor of Owlpen with much that will
be of interest for the family researcher.
Owlpen Marriages
1687-1837
The
manor house, barn, mill and church make an attractive group in
this pretty village near Uley. The church of the Holy Cross was
restored in the 19th century. Within, are eight brasses dating
from 1542 to 1803 to the Daunt family.
Oxford Ancestors
Not directly linked
to Gloucestershire but this is a DNA testing service that can
help you link families and also determine your place in the great
DNA chain. This was first reported in The Observer newspaper and
appears to have good and solid credentials.
Pagan
Hill
The complete 1851
census.
Population Dynamics
An
analysis of the population dynamics in England and
Gloucestershire from the Domesday Book to the start of the twenty
first century. A separate link to the population figures of
Gloucestershire in the 19th century can be found here.
Public Houses and
Inns
This guide to
Gloucestershire pubs has the names of landlords from almost the
present day going back to the 19th century. Most villages and
towns in the south Cotswolds are covered as well as pubs across
the whole of the county.
Randwick
Over 100 pages of
source material on the village of Randwick. This includes
transcripts of the parish records, headstone inscriptions and a
history of the village (which is just north of Stroud).
Residents Today
Once
you start tracing your family history it is tempting to discover
whether you still have relatives living in the area. This site
gives you the ability to search the electoral roll of the UK by
surname and location. You can register on-line and whilst you can
search for free the number of sessions is limited. But you can
pay for unlimited access or buy a CD-ROM. Sometimes the site is
extremely busy and access will be denied at peak periods but it
is well worth persevering.
Alternatively
you can try using British Telecom's
on-line
phone directory.
Resources for
family history research in Gloucestershire
A
list of resources to be found in Gloucestershire libraries for family
history research.
Rodborough Monuments and Inscriptions
Taken
from two sources: Gloucestershire Notes and Queries and Rudder's
1779 'History of Gloucestershire'. Prominent families include
Bennett, Chance, Fluck, Playne and Rodway. The parish church is
dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene and whilst originally dating from
the perpendicular period was rebuilt in 1842. This page also
records the tablets in the Rodborough Tabernacle.
Selsley History
Authoritative
history of this small but delightful village that overlooks
Stroud. The church is set on the side of a steep hill and was
designed by Bodley, 1862, in his French Gothic style. The church
can proudly boast of a complete set of the earliest Morris glass
windows.
Selsley Village
Records
For
some time, this site has been limited to one or two pages with
some links. You can also purchase a book on the history of the
village from the site.
Selsley Census 1851
Census
abstract from 1851, originally transcribed by Steve Bown, a local
historian for Selsley.
Selsley Genealogy
A
page dedicated to genealogy data for Selsley and the neighbouring
village of Woodchester. There are over 500 families noted with
the records dating from the 8th century through to the 20th
century.
Stroud District Pigot's Directory 1830
The
Directory covers King's Stanley, Leonard Stanley, Rodborough,
Stonehouse and Stroud.
Stroud Names from 1539
These
names have been taken from the book 'Notes and Recollections of
Stroud' by Paul Hawkins Fisher. This was published in the late
19th century and provides the most complete history of the town.
Surnames
This data-base
allows you search for surnames and people researching them, by
(UK) County. As it grows it will prove invaluable for making easy
-contact with researchers with similar interests. However, to
gain full access you now need to become a member.
Tetbury Census
1735
The
1735 census recorded 2149 individuals. To this has been added
details from the parish records of the births, marriages and
deaths between 1700 and 1770. Towards the end of 2000 significant
further information was added that makes this site a "best
visit." Tetbury was a prosperous and important wool market,
one of the nearest to the Stroudwater mills. There are many
elegant houses both seventeenth century and Georgian and today
the town is a major tourist attraction no doubt enhanced by the
fact that the Prince of Wales lives a mile or two away at
Highgrove.
In
addition there is an attractive but short overview of the town
provided by the Tetbury Chamber of Commerce published here.
And Tetbury town has also published an on-line guide.
Thomas Family History Index
In
the unlikely event that you are interested in the Thomas
family history this is the Index page. Names include Thomas (of
course), Barker, Bossom, Bowell, Dawber, Greenaway, Hawkins,
Martin, Sanders, Scrafton, Sparkes, Silborn, Wharton, Whiteman,
Wichell, Wornham and many others. Only Martin and Wichell have a
Gloucestershire connection.
Trade Directories
1. A
data base of over 20,000 names taken from the 1850 trade
directories for the county. (There are data bases for many of the
counties of England). This is an invaluable on-line tool and
further information can then be obtained by purchasing a CD-Rom.
The link in the title takes you directly to the county list; the
home page with an explanation of the project can be found here.
2.
In addition Ron Neep is also scanning
and selling CD-ROMs of trade directories and other books and
material at a very reasonable price. Some data is available
on-line.
Visitations to Gloucestershire
1623
This is an on-line
copy of the book that records the pedigrees of landed and
aristocratic families of Gloucestershire. Although the trees are
not to be entirely relied on, they are an indication of early
lines.
The home page of
this site also provides other useful links for Gloucestershire
and the west country.
Wages in Gloucestershire
A
fascinating guide to wages in Gloucestershire from 1534 to 1890.
In addition there are accounts of the life of an agricultural
labourer in the late 18th century.
War Memorials
The War Memorials Trust with a section of useful links.
Westonbirt
The 1851 census. (And if you ever visit the area you must
spend half-a-day in the arboretum).
Woodchester Genealogy from A.D. 960
Woodchester
is one of the most historic parishes in the southern Cotswolds.
This genealogy data base records names dating from the 8th
century, and in total over 500 family names are noted.
Woodchester History from B.C. 3000
This
is a vast web site dedicated to the history and description of
Woodchester. It is the most comprehensive source of information
on this fascinating parish and you will enjoy hours of reading.
And the history really does start from five thousand years ago.
(Please note that I am the author which is why I am gushingly
enthusiastic about it.)
Woodchester 1851 Census
A
full abstract of the 1851 census. Woodchester was a key centre
for the woollen trade, and the census gives a unique insight into
the trades associated with this.
Woodchester
Church Monument Inscriptions
Woodchester
church is full of monuments and tombs for wealthy cloth and mill
owners and hence many well known families are here.
Woollen Industry
in Dursley
This
site is an overview of the woollen industry in the Dursley area.
Dursley is an old market town at the foot of the Cotswold
escarpment and had a thriving woollen industry. There is an
interesting church and old houses.
Wotton-under-Edge History and Names from
A.D. 957
Wotton
was created a borough in 1252. Between 1617 and 1811 some twenty
mayors were clothiers or wool men. Its history mirrors the rise
and subsequent decline of the woollen trade with Wotton very much
at the centre and growing rich and prosperous. This site has over
a thousand names to seek.
Google search. To search this web-site, type your search terms into the box and then click the right buttom before clicking 'google search'.
The idea and all
originally authored pages remain the copyright of Graham Thomas:
(c)1999 - 2005. The right of Graham Thomas to be identified
as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance
with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Any form of
reproduction is forbidden unless permission is first gained.
Currently, this
site is averaging 30,000 hits per month.
Last Update: June 2005. First published May 1999.
To submit a page, report a broken link or to correspond please
e-mail graham thomas