Leeds in the 1870s

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 12:29 am

I know this has been posted on other threads here dakota,but to get back before the 1841 census you can use Parish records. The mormon site here is great for trying to find marriages etc and it is free.Beware stuff shown as added by a mormon member though as it may be inaccurate but the church transcriptions are usually accurate:http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.aspI hope you find it useful.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 1:03 am

Fascinating stuff, Dakota - I really enjoyed reading your family's story. There's a TV programme on the BBC called' Who do you think you are?' where celebrities 'trace'* their family history. Some of the stories are really good - but I don't think any have been as interesting as your tale so many thanks are due to you. This has been one of Secret Leeds most interesting threads for a long time I think.* (actually BBC researchers do it all!)

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 1:18 am

Dakota wrote: But clearly those last two didn't work either, so will have to keep working at it. It would appear that you share my 'talent'for postingphotos etc.It'snice to know that I am not alone,BUT like me you keep on trying!

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 1:36 am

Reading thro' Dakota's posts there seems to be a strong Bradford theme.Although we are roughly 10 miles apart there is a strong local rivalry.10 miles in theU.S. may be almost next door but it can be quite a distance/foreign country to some of us and certainly in the era in question.Have we/can we pinpoint the connection between the 2 cities?

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 2:08 am

I'm 8 miles from the nearest grocery store and it does seem quite a distance when I only need a loaf of bread......But out west, you are right, 10 miles is not a far distance at all.

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 2:13 am

And tv folks in the US followed the BBC lead and did a series of who do you think you are here this spring and it was fascinating to watch and see how it was done. What clues the researchers followed and how they went from generation to generation, it was all very intriguing. I'm fortunate to have a Family History Center from the Mormon Church here in Anderson - I've used one in northern Virginia a great deal when I lived there and they have done an awesome job of gathering information from all parts of the world. So, I'm back to doing some more research.

Post by **cnosni** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 10:41 am

Dakota wrote: tried to do the sod picture, but it's too big so will have to figure out how to shrink it down, so in the mean time here is another picture of Henry and Sarah in their later years. Ive been called "The sod in the picture",does that count as well?Anyway,thanks for the potted history.It seems you have ben very thorough in your research.Are you stuck at the generations before David Coultas and William Wells etc?As for the poll books well dont hold out much hope of finding a great deal.People who lived in rented accomadation did not have the vote,only land and property owners.Therefore they wil not apear.I believe though that business owners/proprieters in leased/rented premises do appear.Also if you are lucky enough to actually have someone appear in them the books will not list who else is in the household (children,partners etc)

Post by **cnosni** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 11:04 am

Hi DakotaHave just looked at your tree on Ancestry.Canyou tell me how you found the name of Ann Astins mother?regards,Chris

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 9:23 pm

I just checked my tree and don't have an Ann Astin hiding amongst the leafy foliage. My tree is called something like Hanson family tree South Dakota. Was that the tree you were looking in?? If not, send me your email address and I'll send you an invite to rummage and basically run amok if you'd like.There's always been a confusion over what Ann's last name was, but since we were able to find a marriage certificate for her and David Coultas, I went with what was on there (Austing), although I've also found something, can't remember what it is right now, that said Hastings. I figure it's a pronunciation thing, since the majority of my relatives didn't seem to be able to read or write, it's probable that when someone like a census taker said "do you spell that......." if it sounded close they'd go with whatever was offered by the census taker or others that could write.

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Sat 05 Jun, 2010 9:51 pm

I realise you haven't heard a Yorkshire accent Dakota but with one,Hastings can very easily sound like Astin!I assume you have used the soundex option when searching for names? thi searches for matches that sound similar.A fascinating thread as others have said.