Genealogy Chat

I have an old photo of a couple who I'm sure are relations but I only have an address written on the back, to help me. I'm sure I remember stumbling across a feature on a website where you could type in an address and you could find out who had lived there in the past - I suppose it looks in the census records. Does anyone know of this and could give me a website to look on?

You can do an address search for each census year if you know how select the districts in the town,but it is a bit of a trawl. But the date of 1896 is midway between the last two census returns available. You could try and check the electoral roll for the area,if you are not local it might be possible to contact the library or records office for the area,but you might be charged for the search. Glen

Thanks Glen. How do I do an address search? The electoral roll is a good idea. Charlotte

On the 1881 Census (on Ancestry) when you search, you can enter the address. If you do that for the 1881 and that will give you the parish and area etc to help you locate it in the electoral roll registers. Without all that bumph, you could be searching for hours. Hope that helps.

You could try the historical directories website: http://www.historicaldirectories.org/ Merry

Thanks Andrea. I'll try the Ancestry 1881 census. Charlotte

You could try the Historical Directories website - http://www.historicaldirectories.org/ Although I've just tried it and it's not responding at the moment. I have heard that they have run out of funding, but were going to keep the website running until next year. Hopefully it's just a technical hitch. Otherwise you can look at the street directories for that period in the local library of the town they lived in.

You can do an address search on the 1901 http://www.1901censusonline.*com/ remove * EG 19 Derby Rd Y Hampshire S Marys S Matthews Southampton Southampton Nichols Town Which will give RG Number, Series Piece Folio Page RG13 1054 7 5 Which used on Ancestry will give Henry Bell abt 1846 Richmond, Yorkshire, England Head St Mary Hampshire

Sorry Charlotte I had to pop out and couldn't answer your question. Re the electoral roll,don't forget that you would only find details for male residents of voting age for 1896,(pre Emily Pankhurst days) But it could give you a hook on a name to start with. Glen

Thanks everyone . That's given me lots to have a go with. I've just looked at 1881 census districts. The address was Melrose Road, Southfields. SW...... I don't know if that is Wimbledon, Surrey or Wandsworth London! Charlotte

This is one road in 1901 Source information: RG13/482 Registration district: Wandsworth Sub-registration district: Wandsworth ED, institution, or vessel: 10 Folio: 46 Page: 30

Southfields is def in Wandsworth! Merry

Hi Jim Thank you for your info. I found the house, 'Rosebank', in the 1901 census but the inhabitants did not ring a bell. I looked the 'head' up in the 1891 census and he was a lodger and single at another address in Wandsworth. How do I find the info that you gave me for the 1891census? Charlotte

1881 John E. Nicholls abt 1814 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Head Wandsworth London This seems to be occupant . Only thing i can suggest is to look at all the occupants,of the road in 1881 and 1901 and try and find any one of them in 1891 Trouble is people moved around a lot.Start with heads.

In 1891 on Ancestry you need to find London then Wandsworth and just the Wandsworth districts with Ecclesiastical parish of All Saints. (use the Description of Enumeration District pages to find this). Go to each District in turn and look at schedule number 177 each time. One of them will be your address. I don't have time to expain in full......... Back later Merry

Right - back now! (school run!) 1891: Rosebank, Melrose Road, Wandsworth William A Nickolls abt 1816 London City, Middlesex, England Head Wandsworth London Mary M Rankins abt 1838 Brook Green, Middlesex, England Servant Wandsworth London Sophia Monk abt 1868 Hammersmith; Putney, Surrey, England Servant Wandsworth London Kate Pierce abt 1877 Kingston, Surrey, England Servant Wandsworth London William is single and a retired engraver. I wonder if he's a relation of the 1881 Nicholls?? They even have the same occupation! (Probably the same man with differeng details! lol) Merry

The historical directories website is still not functioning. I was able to see that they have some street directories dated 1896, which would be great if the site was working! Merry

Thank you Jim and Merry. I took Jim's advice and looked up other people living in Melrose Road on the 1891 census and found William Nicholls too. My first thought had been that he was the son but it looks as though he was 75, so perhaps a brother as he is down as being single whereas John was a widower. But....I was searching for a couple in their late 60's-70's and I have not come across any Nicholl's in the research I've been doing! I suppose my 1897 couple must have moved in and out after 1891 and before 1901. They look very much at home sitting in the garden, she with a little dog onher lap and he with a straw boater. I didn't have much luck with the Historical Directories. So the Electoral Roll it will have to be. I've been in and out from watching Henman play. He is always so nerve racking to watch! Thank goodness he won! Thanks once again for your help. Best wishes Charlotte

Merry The Historical Directories worked briefly and I got into Part 2 of 1890 London Street Directory but couldn't find a Melrose Road. Then nothing happened when I clicked on other stuff. Charlotte

I wonder if your people moved in when William Nicholls died? Name: William Alfred Nicholls Birth Date: abt 1816 Year of Registration: 1895 Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun Age at death: 79 District: Wandsworth County: London, Surrey Volume: 1d Page: 383 Merry