Kelly's Directory Of Lincolnshire 1889

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1889 - Digital Download & CD Edition

Product Description:

Step back into the Victorian era and uncover the lives of your ancestors with this comprehensive republishing of Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1889. An essential resource for genealogists and local historians, this directory serves as a perfect "census substitute," filling the critical gap between the 1881 and 1891 censuses.

Whether you are tracing family lines, researching house history, or exploring the social history of Lincolnshire, this directory provides a detailed snapshot of the county as it was over 130 years ago.

Format & Navigation

This high-quality reproduction is available as a convenient Digital Download or on a CD-ROM. The pages are scanned images of the original book, preserving the authentic look and feel of the Victorian text.

• Navigation: While the original scans are not text-searchable in the traditional sense, the directory is compiled alphabetically by town and by trade. This logical structure makes it incredibly easy to navigate to specific sections or individuals.
• Modern Accessibility: We recommend using a modern PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or Edge). Most modern readers now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to search the text for specific surnames or places directly within the software.

What's Inside?

This directory is a treasure trove of historical data, divided into several distinct sections:

1. County Information: A detailed history of Lincolnshire, including its geology, topography, and administrative divisions. It lists the Magistrates, the Dean and Chapter, and public officials, giving a clear picture of the county's governance.
2. Court Directory (Private Residents): An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and prominent private residents living in the county at the time. This is often the only place where the names of wives and adult children living at home are recorded outside of a census.
3. Trades Directory: A comprehensive classification of businesses and tradesmen. From Blacksmiths in Brigg to Wheelwrights in Wainfleet, this section allows you to discover exactly what your ancestors did for a living.
4. Town & Village Directories: Separate dedicated sections for major towns such as Lincoln, Boston, Grantham, Grimsby, Louth, and Stamford, as well as thorough coverage of the smaller villages and hamlets.

Bridging the Census Gap

One of the most difficult challenges in genealogy is tracking family movement between census years. The 1890 UK Census does not exist. This 1889 directory is the perfect solution to bridge that 10-year gap, helping you confirm that your ancestors were still in Lincolnshire (or had moved) just before the 1891 census.

Lincolnshire Life in 1889: Context & Curiosities

To help you understand the world your ancestors lived in, here are some fascinating facts and figures relevant to Lincolnshire in the late 19th century:

• Industry & Agriculture: In 1889, Lincolnshire was primarily agricultural, famously known for its "belts of corn" and sheep farming. However, industry was booming. Lincoln was a hub for engineering, with firms like Ruston & Proctor (later Ruston-Bucyrus) manufacturing steam engines and excavators that would be shipped across the British Empire.
• Sport: The beautiful game was taking hold. Lincoln City FC had been founded just five years prior (1884) and was playing matches at the John O'Gaunts ground. Grimsby Town, originally formed in 1878, was also establishing itself as a competitive force.
• Famous Residents & Births:
  • George Boole: The father of Boolean algebra (the logic behind modern computer search) was born in Lincoln in 1815. While he passed away in 1864, his legacy and family remained well-known in the city.
  • Alfred, Lord Tennyson: The Poet Laureate and one of Britain's most famous literary figures was a Lincolnshire man (born in Somersby). In 1889, he was still living and writing, a towering figure of local pride.
  • Joseph Franklin: Not to be confused with the arctic explorer, local directories of this era are filled with names of merchants who were the industrial backbone of the ports of Boston and Grimsby.

Map Disclaimer & Bonus

Please Note: In the original 1889 publications, the county map was often issued as a loose insert. As these are scanned images of original books, the map may be missing from the binding in some editions. Bonus: If the map is present and bound into the original book we scanned, it will, of course, be included in your digital download or CD—a wonderful bonus for understanding the historical layout of the county roads and railways!

Unlock your Lincolnshire heritage today!