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England Newspapers: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Birmingham Journal.jpg|thumb|right|231x316px]]English newspapers began in 1620. At first content was limited to foreign news. A tax on each printed sheet of paper limited the number of pages and the amount of information now useful to family historians. The first successful newspaper was the [[The London Gazette|London Gazette]], a biweekly government list of bankruptcies, naturalizations, official acts, and public notices. It began in 1665/6 and still continues today. | [[Image:Birmingham Journal.jpg|thumb|right|231x316px]]English newspapers began in 1620. At first content was limited to foreign news. A tax on each printed sheet of paper limited the number of pages and the amount of information now useful to family historians. The first successful newspaper was the [[The London Gazette|London Gazette]], a biweekly government list of bankruptcies, naturalizations, official acts, and public notices. It began in 1665/6 and still continues today. | ||
<br> In 1690 the first local newspaper began in Worcester. The content was still very limited because of taxes, but useful items published from 1690 to 1800 include the following: | <br>In 1690 the first local newspaper began in Worcester. The content was still very limited because of taxes, but useful items published from 1690 to 1800 include the following: | ||
*Ads with physical descriptions of runaway apprentices, giving the apprentices’ names, addresses, occupations and the names of their fathers and masters. | *Ads with physical descriptions of runaway apprentices, giving the apprentices’ names, addresses, occupations and the names of their fathers and masters. | ||
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*Marriage, engagement, and death notices (since 1730) [But do bear in mind only a very small percentage of Marriages and Deaths were reported due to the limited physical size of the newspaper]. | *Marriage, engagement, and death notices (since 1730) [But do bear in mind only a very small percentage of Marriages and Deaths were reported due to the limited physical size of the newspaper]. | ||
Local newspapers did not flourish until the paper tax was lowered in 1836. When the tax was abolished in 1855 hundreds of newspapers started. The [http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/dispBasicSearch.do?prodId=BLCS&userGroupName=blcsuser British Library in London] has made many county newspapers available online with an every name index. The history is recorded as it happened. You may think that only more prominent people would be mentioned in the newspapers. <br> | Local newspapers did not flourish until the paper tax was lowered in 1836. When the tax was abolished in 1855 hundreds of newspapers started. The [http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/dispBasicSearch.do?prodId=BLCS&userGroupName=blcsuser British Library in London] has made many county newspapers available online with an every name index. The history is recorded as it happened. You may think that only more prominent people would be mentioned in the newspapers. <br> | ||
*Mention of births, deaths, and marriages was for the more prominent people in the area. Obituaries for those that lived near 100 years old. | *Mention of births, deaths, and marriages was for the more prominent people in the area. Obituaries for those that lived near 100 years old. | ||
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*Accounts of battles during war time. | *Accounts of battles during war time. | ||
Now with an [http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/dispBasicSearch.do?prodId=BLCS&userGroupName=blcsuser every name index] it is possible to determine whether your ancestor is recorded in the newspaper for any number of reasons. To use this valuable resource it must be determined if there is an indexed newspaper for the area and time period that is desired. Not every area is covered in this collection. <u>It covers papers from 1800 to 1900.</u><br> | Now with an [http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/dispBasicSearch.do?prodId=BLCS&userGroupName=blcsuser every name index] it is possible to determine whether your ancestor is recorded in the newspaper for any number of reasons. To use this valuable resource it must be determined if there is an indexed newspaper for the area and time period that is desired. Not every area is covered in this collection. <u>It covers papers from 1800 to 1900.</u><br> | ||
If a newspaper is not online then it is necessary to search newspapers on microfilm and determine if there are paper indexes. Microfilmed newspapers can be found in County Record Offices and the British Newspaper Library.<br> | If a newspaper is not online then it is necessary to search newspapers on microfilm and determine if there are paper indexes. Microfilmed newspapers can be found in County Record Offices and the British Newspaper Library.<br> | ||
The following works may help you decide if newspapers contain the information you need: <br> | The following works may help you decide if newspapers contain the information you need: <br> | ||
*Nicholson, Cregoe D. P. ''The Genealogical Value of Early English Newspapers''. London, England: C.D.P. Nicholson, 1934. {{FHL|1468841}} item 7; {{FHL|6026113}} | *Nicholson, Cregoe D. P. ''The Genealogical Value of Early English Newspapers''. London, England: C.D.P. Nicholson, 1934. {{FHL|1468841}} item 7; {{FHL|6026113}} | ||
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*The Scotsman, The Guardian etc are also available on a Pay per View Basis | *The Scotsman, The Guardian etc are also available on a Pay per View Basis | ||
Copies of British newspapers are at many repositories and libraries. The most complete collection is in the Newspaper Library section of the British Library (see | Copies of British newspapers are at many repositories and libraries. The most complete collection is in the Newspaper Library section of the British Library (see [[England Archives and Libraries]] for the address). | ||
The following work lists holdings by town of publication: | The following work lists holdings by town of publication: | ||
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*Gibson, J. S. W. ''Local Newspapers, 1750–1920''. Revised Edition. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Limited, 1987. {{FHL|942 B33g}} This book lists holdings in English repositories, arranged by county and city. | *Gibson, J. S. W. ''Local Newspapers, 1750–1920''. Revised Edition. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Limited, 1987. {{FHL|942 B33g}} This book lists holdings in English repositories, arranged by county and city. | ||
''It's worth bearing in mind that Regional Newspapers may be a much better source for your ancestors than National Newspapers'' (the Gibson Guide listed above is an invaluable resource to track local holdings).<br> | ''It's worth bearing in mind that Regional Newspapers may be a much better source for your ancestors than National Newspapers'' (the Gibson Guide listed above is an invaluable resource to track local holdings).<br> | ||
The Family History Library has a few English newspapers listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | The Family History Library has a few English newspapers listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||