Week 6 2022: Maps #52Ancestors — Making Sense of it All

I have a terrible sense of direction which is likely what feeds my obsession with maps. Of particular interest are the Ordnance Survey Maps of Great Britain. The OS is the national mapping agency for Great Britain. It began operation after the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745 where the military mapped the Scottish Highlands and continues to function today printing leisure maps but primarily providing advanced geographical information systems (GIS) tools and software.[1] For anyone of English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry, these maps can provide a wealth of information about the lands our ancestors lived on.

One branch of my husband’s ancestors came from Padbury, a village within the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire.[2] A lovely modern-day feature of this village is that many of its buildings date to the 17th-century and are listed on the National Heritage List for England. These old buildings feature thatched or old tile roofs, timber frames, “colour-washed” brick or stone, and other historic features.[3] An ancient village, Padbury was recorded as “Pateberie” in the Domesday Book of 1086, the great land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to assess the land and resources in England.[4]

Bruce’s second great-grandfather, John Bryant, was born and raised in Padbury, but immigrated to the United States in his twenties.[5] The last English census where he was enumerated was that of 1851where he and his father were listed as “Ag. Laborers,” and his sister Hannah a “Lacemaker.” There isn’t an accessible map of Padbury from 1851, but the OS has maps showing Padbury in 1880 (close enough for my purposes).[6] The Bryant family lived on Old End, which the OS map depicts as a U-shaped street. Even though neither the map nor the census identifies exactly where families lived, it satisfies the geek in me to study this map and imagine what life was like in this town of about 660 persons in the mid-19th century. The two commercial directories published shortly after the 1851 census aided my research.[7]

Although Padbury consists of about 2,000 acres of land, the majority of the inhabitants in 1851 lived on Main Street, Old End, and Lower Way. Like the Bryants, 143 of the men and boys in Padbury were agricultural laborers, including boys as young as seven.[8] Thirteen farmers in Padbury occupied between ten and 294 acres and employed a total of eighty-eight men and boys. Eleven, mostly elderly, women were identified as paupers and there were several men categorized as “pauper/farmer.” Other professions were represented as well: one veterinary surgeon, three pig dealers, a carpenter, a couple of brickmakers and bakers, several railway workers, a few dairy maids, dressmakers and tailors, and the Vicar of Padbury.[9]The village had a National School, which was built in 1840 for both boys and girls.[10] Miss Mary Baker was its Governess (she lived with the Vicar’s family).[11]

Thirty women and forty-six girls worked as lacemakers, including one five-year-old. There were two lace dealers in Padbury, so it is likely they all worked for them. The county of Buckinghamshire was the center of English lacemaking from as early as the 16th century.[12]

After lacemakers and men in agricultural pursuits, the next most numerous profession was as “publican,” “maltster,” and/or “victualler.” That is, men and women who owned/operated a tavern, inn, or public house.[13] On the map below, I’ve circled “Red Lion,” “New Inn,” “Robin Hood,” “Blackbird” and one “P.H.” which was either the “White Hart” operated by William Baker or the establishment of John Kirtland who was a blacksmith and beer retailer.[14] Six places to get a drink for a village of 660, not too shabby.[15]

Now here’s a fun fact and the kind of thing I live for: one of those public houses is still in business today! New Inn on London Road in Padbury is open Wednesday to Sunday (and Mondays on Bank Holidays).[16] While they don’t regularly serve food, food trucks visit on the weekends and something called a “foodie evening” also happens on weekends. A large open fireplace is in the main bar and the Inn has a snug with leather settees, a quiet room in the back, and a patio garden. Sounds like a nice place to have a pint (or two).

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[1] “Ordnance Survey History,” Ordnance Survey (https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/about/history ; accessed 13 February 2022).

[2] Wikipedia.org, “Padbury,” rev. 19:05, 26 June 2021.

[3] “The Most Important Historic Places in England Are Listed,” Historic England (https://historicengland.org.uk : accessed 13 February 2022). William Page, editor, "Parishes: Padbury," A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 4, (London: Victoria County History, 1927), 209-215; digital images, British History Online (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp209-215 : accessed February 13, 2022).

[4] “The Domesday Book Online,” Domesday Book (http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/index.html : accessed 13 February 2022).

[5] He was in the United States by 1860. 1860 U. S. census, Nebraska Territory, Douglas County, p. 117, dwelling no. 1208, family no. 840, John Bryant; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 February 2022); citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 665. FYI, “Briant” in the U.K; “Bryant” in the U.S.

[6] “Padbury,” “Ordnance Survey maps,” “Map Images,” National Library of Scotland (https://maps.nls.uk/view/104181257 : accessed 13 February 2022).

[7] Musson and Craven, Musson & Craven’s Commercial Directory of Buckinghamshire and the Town of Windsor (Nottingham, England: Musson and Craven, 1853), 167; digital images, Special Collections Online, University of Leicester (http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/301669/rec/3 : accessed 10 February 2022). Isaac Slater, Slater’s (Late Pigot & Co.) Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of … Buckinghamshire…. (Manchester and London: Isaac Slater, 1852), digital images, Google Books (http://www.google.books.com : accessed 10 February 2022).

[8] Page, "Parishes: Padbury." 1851 census of England, Buckinghamshire, Padbury, enumeration district 7f, folio 284-304, PRO HO 107/1724; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 February 2022).

[9] 1851 census of England, Buckinghamshire, Padbury.

[10] Slater, Slater’s (Late Pigot & Co.) Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of … Buckinghamshire (1883), 167.

[11] 1851 census of England, Buckinghamshire, Padbury, fo. 287, line 18, Mary Baker in household of William T. Eyre.

[12] “Fun Fact Friday: Buckingham and Lacemaking,” Buckingham Town Council (https://www.buckingham-tc.gov.uk/buckingham-and-lacemaking/ : accessed 13 February 2022).

[13] FamilySearch Research Wiki, “England Occupations,” rev. 16:14, 4 May 2021.

[14] Slater, Slater’s (Late Pigot & Co.) Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of … Buckinghamshire … (1883), 171.

[15] It wasn’t until 1886 that children under thirteen were prohibited from buying intoxicating liquors. Joseph Bridges Matthews, “The Intoxicating Liquors (Sale to Children) Act, 1886 (35 & 36 VICT. c. 93),” The Law Relating to Children and Young Persons (London: Sweet & Maxwell, Ltd., 1895), 111; digital images Google Books (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Law_Relating_to_Children_and_Young_P/bDJHAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1886+Intoxicating+Liquors+(Sale+to+Children)+Act&pg=PA111&printsec=frontcover : accessed 14 February 2022).

[16] “New Inn,” What?ub.com (https://whatpub.com/pubs/BUN/1840/new-inn-padbury : accessed 14 February 2022).