Bedfordshire, Berkshire & Buckinghamshire

The original Gentleman's Magazine contained articles on a vast array of subjects, including lots of wonderful topographical pieces.

In 1891 George Gomme republished all of these topograhical articles but edited and indexed them into county specific order. Each of Gomme's works contains between two and four separate counties, except for the London volumes.

An absolute goldmine of information about the county, its people and its places.

A compendium set comprising all 15 volumes. Each individual book includes between two and four counties, with the exception of London which is in its own three volume set but is included in the compendium.

This is one of the most important resources that we have seen, and one that should be of great interest to all family historians. Published in 1772 it was the handbook of the duties and responsibilities of the Parish Officer.

It includes the duties of the overseers of the poor, the power in relieving, employing and settling, etc. of poor persons; the laws relating to the poor, and settlements, and the statutes concerning masters and servants. The right of Settlement was something that was of great concern to all of our ancestors. Basically, to be able to have right of settlement in a parish, one had to be born there, married there or serving an apprenticeship there. Proof was all-important, especially if a person became destitute and needed support from the parish. Parish officers would have people literally evicted and transported to another parish under such circumstances. What happened about bastardy? What obligations does an apprentice have to his master and vice-versa? This book describes it all, together with the supporting laws.

Other sections of the book include the authority and duty of constables, tithingmen, etc.; churchwardens, how they should be chosen, their duties, church accounts, repairing of churches, etc. There are some very interesting punishments for not attending church and keeping to the rules! There is a section on surveying the highways, Scavengers, methods of taxation of the highways, and laws. And finally, the duties and powers of Watchmen.

A really excellent description and history of Buckinghamshire, its towns and villages and people.

Illustrated with nine engravings and a lovely pull out county map.

An account of Buckingham's towns, castles, churches, monuments, picturesque scenery and antiquities. This wonderful old book describes the history of Buckinghamshire and it's people as far back as Roman times. It describes all the main towns individually and gives a glimpse of life in each. As well as lots of details about the way people lived, the customs and trades of the area.

Langley, A beautiful book published in 1797.

A hundred is a division of a county, that contains many parishes, and this one describes the parishes in the Hundred of Desborough in great detail.

Published in 1755, and set in an old typeface, this wonderful book describes the town of Buckingham in great detail gathered from the earliest records. An excellent and important work. Includes a street map of Buckingham in 1610.

Gibbs. (1885)

Important and notable families of Buckinghamshire. Descriptions, background information and pedigrees.

A fascinating account of country life in the 1800s. Essentially about life in Buckinghamshire, but equally applicable to many other counties in England. Lots of anecdotes and stories about real people.

Another in the series of books about Buckinghamshire life by J. K. Fowler.