John
04-10-2004, 11:30 PM
I suspect that the most common use of trade directories is as a census index, but their use is far greater than this.
On a basic level they give a good picture of the environment that your ancestors lived in. But they go much further than this, even in the 19th cent., in rural areas property often stayed in the same family, therefore finding the same address in several directories can often (but not always) give you clues to desendency.
Take the time to study them and they double as a pretty good street map as well.
They can also provide amusement and an insight into people, I mean, if your surname is Jordan and you call your son River, you can't be taking it all too seriously can you?
John
On a basic level they give a good picture of the environment that your ancestors lived in. But they go much further than this, even in the 19th cent., in rural areas property often stayed in the same family, therefore finding the same address in several directories can often (but not always) give you clues to desendency.
Take the time to study them and they double as a pretty good street map as well.
They can also provide amusement and an insight into people, I mean, if your surname is Jordan and you call your son River, you can't be taking it all too seriously can you?
John