Huntingdonshire Genealogical Records

Huntingdonshire Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Births at the British Lying-in Hospital (1750-1867)

Details of births and baptisms of poor, married women from Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire recorded at the British Lying-in Hospital in Holborn.

British Birth and Baptism Records (1400-2010)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of birth and baptism records that cover over 250 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

FreeBMD Births (1837-1957)

An index to births registered at the central authority for England & Wales. The index provides the area where the birth was registered, mother's maiden name from September 1911 and a reference to order a birth certificate.

British Army Birth Index (1761-2005)

An index to births registered to British Army personal at home and abroad.

Huntingdonshire Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Vicar General’s Office Marriage Licences (1600-1679)

Abstracts of marriage licences granted by the Vicar-General in London. These licences could be used to marry in any church in the Province of Canterbury.

British Marriage Records (1392-2011)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of marriage records that cover over 160 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

UK Divorce Records (1858-1911)

Digital images of documents from civil divorce cases. The cases cover both the cause of the case and the outcome, such as division of property and visitation rights. These records also contain details of illegitimate children. Cases can be searched by a name index.

FreeBMD Marriages (1837-1961)

An index to marriages registered at the central authority for England & Wales. To March 1912 only the area of registration and name of one party is given. From then on, the spouse's surname is also given. Provides a reference, which can be used to order a marriage certificate with more details.

Huntingdonshire Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Huntingdonshire Burials (1538-1900)

Transcriptions of over 230,000 entries from burial registers kept by Anglican churches.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

British Death and Burial Records (1379-2014)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of death and burial records that cover over 140 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

FreeBMD Deaths (1837-1964)

An index to deaths registered at the central authority for England and Wales. To 1866, only the locality the death was registered in was listed. Age was listed until 1969, when the deceased's date of birth was listed. Provides a reference to order a death certificate, which has further details.

Huntingdonshire Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

1901 British Census (1901)

The 1901 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

1891 British Census (1891)

The 1891 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

1881 British Census (1881)

The 1881 census provides details on an individual's age, residence and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows for searches on multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Newspapers Covering Huntingdonshire

Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette (1818-1839)

A record of births, marriages, deaths, legal, political, organisation and other news from the Huntingdon, Bedford and Peterborough vicinity. Original pages of the newspaper can be viewed and located by a full text search.

Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette (1818-1839)

A newspaper covering local news, family announcements etc. in the counties of Huntingdon, Bedford & Cambridgeshire.

Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette (1818-1839)

A regional newspaper recording events in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire. It includes family announcements, reports on legal proceedings and business notices & advertisements.

The Daily Herald (1926)

A London newspaper that later became The Sun.

Daily Herald (1914-1918)

A left-wing, British daily that sold up to 2 million copies a day at its peak.

Huntingdonshire Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Huntingdon Archdeaconry Wills & Administrations (1479-1652)

A calendar of probates and administrations granted by the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Provides a reference to order original documents, which may help trace ancestors as far back as the 15th century.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Admon Index (1559-1660)

An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Probate Abstracts (1630-1654)

A searchable database of mid-17th Century probates performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Supplies details of testator and executor.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (PPV) (1384-1858)

A index to testators whose will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. They principally cover those who lived in the lower two thirds of Britain, but contain wills for residents of Scotland, Ireland, British India and other countries. A copy of each will may be purchased for digital download.

Huntingdonshire Immigration & Travel Records

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

Alien Arrivals in England (1810-1869)

Details on over 600,000 non-British citizens arriving in England. Often includes age and professions. Useful for discerning the origin of immigrants.

17th Century British Emigrants to the U.S. (1600-1700)

Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.

Huntingdonshire Military Records

Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot Timeline (1702-1918)

An outline history of the regiment, with photographs, other images and names of some of the regiment's men.

Prisoners of War of British Army (1939-1945)

A searchable list of over 100,000 British Army POWs. Records contains details on the captured, their military career and where they were held prisoner.

British Prisoners of World War II (1939-1945)

Details on around 165,000 men serving in the British Army, Navy and Air Force who were held as prisoners during WWII.

British Army WWI Medal Rolls (1914-1920)

Index and original images of over 5 million medal index cards for British soldiers It can be searched by individual's name, Coprs, Unit and Regiment. Due to the loss of many WWI service records, this is the most complete source for British WWI soldiers

British Army WWI Service Records (1914-1920)

This rich collection contains contains records for 1.9 million non-commissioned officers and other ranks who fought in WWI. Due to bomb damage in WWI, around 60% of service records were lost. Documents cover: enlistment, medical status, injuries, conduct, awards and discharge. A great deal of genealogical and biographical documentation can be found in these documents, including details on entire families, physical descriptions and place of birth.

Act Books of the Archbishops of Canterbury (1663-1859)

An index to names and places mentioned in act books of the Province of Canterbury. It records various licences and conferments, such as marriage and physician licences.

Home Office Prison Calendars (1868-1929)

Records of over 300,000 prisoners held by quarter sessions in England & Wales. Records may contain age, occupation, criminal history, offence and trial proceedings.

Central Criminal Court After-trial Calendars (1855-1931)

Over 175,000 records detailing prisoner's alleged offences and the outcome of their trial. Contains genealogical information.

England & Wales Electoral Registers (1832-1932)

Digital images of ledgers recording those registered to vote, searchable by an index of 220 million names. Entries list name, address, qualification to vote, description of property and sometimes age and occupation.

Prison Hulk Registers (1802-1849)

From the late 18th century many prisoners in Britain were kept on decommissioned ships known as hulks. This collection contains nearly 50 years of registers for various ships. Details given include: prisoner's name, date received, age, year of birth and conviction details.

Huntingdonshire Taxation Records

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Land Tax Redemption (1798-1811)

This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.

Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures (1710-1811)

An index linked to original images of registers recording apprenticeship indentures. Details are given on the trade and nature of apprenticeship. Many records list the parents of the apprentice.

Red Book of the Exchequer (1066-1230)

A compilation of records from the Court of the Exchequer primarily dealing with taxes and land. These records are in Latin.

Index to Death Duty Registers (1796-1903)

An index to wills and administrations that incurred a death duty tax. The index can be used to order documents that give a brief abstract of the will and details on the duty. It can be used as a make-shift probate index.

Huntingdonshire Land & Property Records

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Land Tax Redemption (1798-1811)

This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.

UK Poll Books and Electoral Rolls (1538-1893)

Poll books record the names of voters and the direction of their vote. Until 1872 only landholders could vote, so not everyone will be listed. Useful for discerning an ancestor's political leanings and landholdings. The collection is supplemented with other records relating to the vote.

Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem (1236-1291)

Abstracts of records detailing the estates and families of deceased tenants from the reigns of Henry III and Edward I.

Red Book of the Exchequer (1066-1230)

A compilation of records from the Court of the Exchequer primarily dealing with taxes and land. These records are in Latin.

Huntingdonshire Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Huntingdonshire (1914)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Kelly's Directory of Huntingdonshire (1910)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Kelly's Directory of Huntingdonshire (1906)

A directory of settlements in Huntingdonshire detailing their history, agriculture, topography, economy and leading commercial, professional and private residents.

Kelly's Directory of Beds, Hunts & Northants (1903)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Kelly's Directory of Beds, Hunts & Northants (1898)

A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.

Huntingdonshire Cemeteries

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Maritime Memorials (1588-1950)

Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.

Rail & Canal Photographs Catalog (1880-1970)

A searchable database of photographs relating to railways and canals in Britain.

Huntingdonshire Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Huntingdonshire Histories & Books

Victoria County History: Huntingdonshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Geograph: Photos of the UK and Ireland (2005-Present)

A growing database including millions of photographs of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Ireland catalogued by latitude & longitude and OS grid reference.

Britain from Above (1919-1953)

Ariel photographs of the British Isles. Browsable by location.

UK & Ireland Historical Postcards (1885-1950)

Over 19,000 postcards depicting places in the UK & Ireland.

UK Photos (1857-2005)

A collection of 220,000 professional photos covering most towns and villages in Britain, and parts of Ireland.

Huntingdonshire School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Huntingdonshire Occupation & Business Records

Huntingdonshire Pub Histories (1820-Present)

Histories of Huntingdonshire pubs, with photographs and lists of owners or operators.

Beds, Hunts & Northamptonshire Baptist Ministers (1753-1835)

A non-exhaustive list of Baptist churches and their ministers in the counties.

Lost Pubs of Huntingdonshire (1750-Present)

Short histories of former public houses, with photographs and lists of owners or operators.

British Trade Union Membership Registers (1870-1999)

An index to and images of registers recording over 3.7 million trade union members.

UK Medical Registers (1859-1959)

Books listing doctors who were licensed to operate in Britain and abroad. Contains doctor's residencies, qualification and date of registration.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Huntingdonshire

Victoria County History: Huntingdonshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Huntingdonshire Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Huntingdonshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Visitation of England and Wales (1700-1899)

Over 600 pedigrees for English and Welsh families who had a right to bear a coat of arms.

Knights of England (1127-1904)

The most comprehensive listing of Knights of the Crown, listing details where known to the order, date, place and reason for elevation.

Huntingdonshire Church Records

Act Books of the Archbishops of Canterbury (1663-1859)

An index to names and places mentioned in act books of the Province of Canterbury. It records various licences and conferments, such as marriage and physician licences.

Beds, Hunts & Northamptonshire Baptist Ministers (1753-1835)

A non-exhaustive list of Baptist churches and their ministers in the counties.

England Parish Registers (1914-2013)

Documentation for those baptised, married and buried at England. Parish registers can assist tracing a family back numerous generations.

England Parish Registers (1538-1934)

The primary source of documentation for baptisms, marriages and burials before 1837, though extremely useful to the present. Their records can assist tracing a family back numerous generations.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

Biographical Directories Covering Huntingdonshire

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

The Concise Dictionary of National Biography (1654-1930)

A directory containing lengthy biographies of noted British figures. The work took over two decades to compile. Biographies can be searched by name and are linked to images of the original publication.

Huntingdonshire Maps

Maps of Huntingdonshire (1607-1880)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Parish Maps of Britain (1832)

Maps of parishes in England, Scotland and Wales. They are useful in determining which parish records may be relevant to your research.

Huntingdonshire Reference Works

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

British Family Mottoes (1189-Present)

A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.

Civil & Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Historical Description

HUNTINGDONSHIRE, or Hunts, is an inland shire in the East Lowlands, near the arm of the sea called the Wash: it is very small, only Middlesex and Rutland being smaller, and Rutland only having fewer inhabitants: the shire takes its name from the town of Huntingdon: the length from north to south is nearly 30 miles, and from east to west 23: the shape is something like a lozenge: it is bounded on the north-west and north by Northamptonshire, on the north-east and east and south-east by Cambridgeshire and on the south-west by Bedfordshire. The number of acres was 234,218: under the “Local Government Act,” of 1888, by transfer of Swineshead to Beds, and of Tilbrook from Beds to Huntingdonshire, likewise parts of Luddington, Lutton and Thurning added to Northants, and of Winwick from Northants to Hunts, together with the transfer of part of Pap worth St. Agnes to Cambridgeshire, and of part of the Soke of Peterborough to Northants, making the present area 233.977. The population in 1831 was 53,192; in 1841, 58,594; in 1851, 64,183; in 1861, 64,250; in 1871, 63,708; in 1881, 59,491 and in 1891, 57,761; viz. males, 28,419 and females 29,342. The number of houses were, inhabited, 13,217; uninhabited, 1,186; and building, 29.

This shire formed the western part of the territory of the Iceni, The Romans, having taken the country, long held it as part of the province of Flavia Caesariensis; they seem to have had stations called Durolipons at Godmanchester and Durobrivae at Water Newton, on the Nene; at Chesterton was a camp. Their great roads, the Ermine street and Via Devana, passed through the county, the first from Barkway and Royston in Herts, and the second from Cambridge, the two uniting at Godmanchester south of the town of Huntingdon; the Ermine street crosses the Icknield way at Royston. The Romans having left, the East English took it from the Welsh, but afterwards the Mid-English held it till it became part of the kingdom of England The earldom was one of the chief under the early kings; it is still held by the family of Hastings. There were two great abbeys, Ramsey and Sawtry St. Judith, and castles at Kimbolton and Huntingdon. Alwalton, Comington, Hartford and Leighton Bromswold churches have remains of Norman building.

The south-eastern part of the shire, which rises into small hills, is mainly iron-sand, the middle Oxford clay, the north-eastern fen land, and the northern stone brash, so that Huntingdonshire belongs mostly to the oolite and those soils nearly akin. In the higher parts the air is good, but in the fen lands it is damp, and fogs are frequent; it is, however, adapted to husbandry. The soil is of many kinds, some inferior, but by care it is made to bear good crops, and the fens, after drainage, yield very largely. A great deal of land is laid down for grazing, and the meadows feed many fat cattle. The land in the fens grows many willows, but otherwise it is mostly bare of trees. In the upland, corn is grown. Huntingdonshire produces forest marble, peat turf, wheat, barley, beans, turnips, rape, hay, clover, mustard, cattle, sheep, hogs, waterfowl and eels. The people are mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits; few handicrafts are carried on these are chiefly brick and tile making, paper making, parchment making, brewing, malting, currying and tanning, ironfounding, lace making and printing, some few parsons being employed in madder making, lime burning, rush work &c.

The northern part of the shire is chiefly fen, and belongs to the valley of the Nene; the southern is higher land, belonging to the basin of the Ouse. The chief hills are a range on the right bank of the Ouse, running from Potton to near Huntingdon, a branch of the Cambridgeshire hills and some others on the southern bank of the Nene, and there is a small range north of Huntingdon by Stukeley and Upton. The Ouse comes into the shire at the south, passes St. Neots, where a brook flows in from Eynesbury and another from Kimbolton and a little further another from Diddington. The Ouse next passes north to Huntingdon, where it takes the waters of two brooks from the west and north-west, thence passing east by St. Ives, on its way to the Wash: it is navigable by large boats in its whole course throughout the shire, and as high up as Bedford: the haven at its mouth is Lynn, which is the great shipping place for the Fen counties. The Nene, or Nen, winds along the north border of the shire by Peterborough, and will bear large boats; its chief haven is Wisbech, in Cambridgeshire. The Fen lands are crossed by several streams, cuts, drains and meres, many of which are navigable by boats; these cuts likewise connect the rivers Nene and Ouse, so that the whole of the east of the shire has a good water-way throughout. Notwithstanding the streams and meres, the inhabitants of many parts are very badly off for water, which, for want of springs, they draw from ponds and wells, and is far from being good. Very much of the fen land has within a few years been thoroughly drained and brought into cultivation: it is generally very productive and repays the expense of draining.

The once celebrated Whittlesea mere has been entirely drained, as have also Ramsey and Ugg meres.

Railways.-The main line of the Great Northern Co. enters the county close to St. Neots, and passing through Huntingdon, runs direct north to Peterborough, via Holme, whence there is a branch to Ramsey. The Great Eastern line runs from Cambridge to St. Ives, and thence to Huntingdon, and has another line from St. Ives to March Junction with a branch from Somersham to Ramsey, and its direct line from March to Peterborough touches the north of the county. The Midland railway runs from Huntingdon to Godmanchester, and then turning to the west, passes by Kimbolton to Thrapston, whence lines lead to Northampton and Leicester. The London and North-Western Company’s line to Peterborough runs across the north-west angle of the county. The coach roads, including the Great North road through Huntingdon, Sawlney and Naxley, are many and good.

The county contains 104 civil parishes and parts of 4 others, and is in the province of Canterbury, diocese of Ely, and is an archdeaconry, which is sub-divided in the rural deaneries of Huntingdon, Kimbolton, Leightonstone, St. Ives, St. Neots and Yaxley. It is in the South Eastern circuit, and Huntingdon is the shire town, where the assizes are held. The county has one court of quarter sessions, and is divided into five petty sessional divisions. As the shire is so small it is joined by Cambridgeshire in the shrievalty, the two having only one sheriff. The chief town is Huntingdon, which is a municipal borough, with 4,346 people in 1891, in the middle of the shire, on the Ouse. Godmanchester and Stives are also municipal boroughs; population of Godmanchester, 2,095, St. Ives, 3,037; Ramsey, with 4,684 inhabitants, and St. Neots, with 2,962, are market towns. Kimbolton is also a market town, with a castle, the seat of the Duke of Manchester, population 993; and Yaxley, population 1,304, is a small town near Norman Cross, which had formerly a market.

Huntingdonshire has four hundreds: —

Norman Cross, to the north;

Hurstingstone (Ramsey and St. Ives), to the east;

Leightonstone (Kimbolton), to the west;

Toseland (St. Neots), to the south.

The Registration districts are—
NoPlaceAreaPop. 1891
168Huntingdon79,73519,093
169St. Ives61,91415,957
170St. Neots65,92015,239

The Three Counties Lunatic Asylum (Herts, Beds and Hunts), in the parish of Stotfold, in Bedfordshire, stands within an area of 253 acres, of which 230 are cultivated; the building was extended in 1879 and holds over 1,000 patients; Edward Swain L.R.C.P. Edin. medical superintendent; Samuel Ernest De Lisle L.R.C.P.Irel. senior assistant medical officer; David Thomas Evans M.R.C.S. Eng. junior assistant medical officer; Rev. John Downes Webster Hawksley BA. chaplain; Francis George Butler esq. (St. Neots), clerk to the committee of visitors; Thomas Lester, steward and clerk to the asylum; Miss Louisa H. Tweddel, matron.

The Huntingdon Town and County Hospital, erected in 1853, enlarged in 1863 and further enlarged and renovated in 1897, stands on the Common, near the Great Northern Railway station, and is a structure of brick and stone, comprising a commodious waiting-hall, with, consulting-rooms, dispensary and committee-room: the interior is well arranged and contains 42 beds; Herbert Lucas M.R.C.S.Eng. Donald McRitchie M.B., C.M. and David McRitchie M.B., C.M. medical officers; Joseph Henry Patterson M.B., C.M. house surgeon; Ven. Archdeacon Francis Gerald Vesey LL.D. hon. sec.; Arthur G. Dilley, assistant sec.; Rev. A. A. Honey, chaplain; Miss Beatrice Carr matron.

Military

Huntingdon is the head quarters of the Huntingdon Militia, which forms the 5th battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, the depot for which is temporarily at Gosport.

Volunteers

There are no volunteers in this county.

Fairs And Markets

Earith, May 4, July 25, & November 1, chiefly for cattle.

Godmanchester, tues. & wed. in Easter week.

Huntingdon, sat. before Michaelmas day, third sat. in November, tuesday before Easter & second tues, in May; market day, sat.

Kimbolton, fri. in Easter week for toys; fri. in Whitsun week for toys; & fri. after Old Michaelmas Day for toys; December 11 (Old St. Andrew's day), called locally “Tandry” fair; also a statute fair for hiring servants, September 21 or the wed. nearest it.

Ramsey, July 22, for cattle; market day, wed.

St. Ives, Whit mon. & October 11, for cattle, sheep & general ware; market day, mon. for cattle, sheep & pigs.

St. Neots, Ascension day, that day three weeks, first thurs; after October 11 & thurs. before Dec. 17; a statute fair, the date of which is fixed annually, is held in the latter part of September; market day, thurs. & weekly sales of fat & store cattle.

Yaxley, Holy thurs.

The following Table shows the acreage under each kind of crop, and the number of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs in the County of Huntingdon, as taken from the Agricultural Returns, 1896: —

CropsAcres
Corn and cereals70,938
Roots, artificial grasses, cabbage, kohl— rabbi21,307
Clover and grasses17,757
Permanent pasture86,442
Bare fallow11,247
Orchards630
Market gardens654
Woods and plantations4,714
Live StockNumber
Horses for agriculture, brood mares and unbroken horses11,000
Cows in milk or calf7,192
Other cattle21,225
Sheep, 1 year old59,058
Ditto, under 1 year40,713
Pigs22,650
Huntingdon contained in 1891, inhabited houses
StatisticNumber
Civil Parishes, 1897104
In 1874, owners of land below 1 acre1,816
Owners of land of 1 acre and upwards2,087
Total landowners3,903
Total acreage of rated lands, 1897263,851
Rateable value£462,870
Common or Heath land for grazing, acres16
Total acreage of the county233,977

Huntingdon County Council

Local Government Act, 1888, 51 & 52 Vic. c. 41.

Under the above Act, the county of Huntingdon, after the 1st April, 1889, became, for the purposes of that Act, an administrative county (sec. 46), governed by a County Council, consisting of chairman, aldermen and councillors elected in manner prescribed by the Act (sec. 2).

The chairman, by virtue of his office, is a justice of the peace for the county, without qualification (sec. 46).

The police for the county are under the control of a standing joint committee of the Quarter Sessions and the County Council appointed as therein mentioned (sec. 9).

The coroners for the county are elected by the County Council, and the clerk of the peace appointed by such joint committee, and may be removed by them (sec. 83—2).

The clerk of the peace for the county is also clerk of the County Council (sec. 83—1).

The administrative business of the county (which would, if this Act had not been passed, have been transacted by the justices) is now transacted by the County Council.

Kelly's Directory of Huntingdonshire (1898)

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, EXTENT, SOIL, AND CLIMATE

Huntingdonshire is an inland county, being bounded on the north by the counties of Northampton and Cambridge; on the east by Cambridgeshire; on the south by Bedfordshire, and on the west by Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. In shape it is very irregular, and extends in length from north to south about 26 miles, and 20 from east to west; its circumference being about 76 miles; it is reckoned to contain 220,800 statute acres of land.

The face of this county may be said to have three varieties; on the borders of the Ouse is a rich tract of fertile meadows, of which Portholm Mead, near Huntingdon, enclosed by a band of the river, is particularly celebrated. The middle and western parts are finely varied with corn and woodlands, and the upland parts were anciently an extensive forest, well adapted for the chase. The northeastern parts consist of fens, the whole of which may be computed at one fifth of the county; these fens join those of Ely, and form a large proportion of the great Bedford Level, part of them are tolerably drained, and afford good pasturage, and in the midst of them are some shallow pools abounding with fish.

The air, in consequence of the fenny land and meers, is considered as unwholesome, especially towards the north part of the county.

NAME AND ANCIENT HISTORY

This county takes its name from Huntingdon, its principal town, which is derived from the Saxon word, Huntedunscire, signifying Hunter's down; this district being at that time well adapted for the sport of hunting, as it was almost one continued forest.

Previous to the arrival of Julius Cæsar, Huntingdonshire, with the adjacent counties of Cambridge, Norfolk, and Suffolk, were inhabited by the Certain ini or Cenemagni, who composed the extensive territory of the Iceni, a powerful British tribe, whose name was derived from the wedge-like form of their country; a wedge, in the Britishlanguage beingtermed Iken. Sir H. Spelman however deduces the name from the river Ise or Ouse, which the Britons are said to have called lchen. Baxter supposes it to have been derived from Uic or Union, i. e. brave men; but Whitaker says that “the genuine and proper name was Ceni, Y-ce-ni, or Cen-om-es, the Headones; and the appellations of Cenimagni, Cenimnnni, Caromunni, signify only the head-men; man being equally a British and Saxon word, and retained to this day in the Erse.”

The Iceni are represented by Tacitus as a brave nation, who having formed an alliance with the Romans at a very early period, remained undisturbed by war till the time of Claudius, when the Proprietor Ostorius fortifying the rivers, and disarming the Britons, the Iceni a sembled in great force to oppose him: their undisciplined bravery, however, proved of little avail against Roman weapons, and Roman discipline; so that after a sanguinary conflict, they were defeated with great loss, and were obliged to submit to the harsh terms proposed by their conqueror; but 13 years afterwards, being exasperated by new oppressions, combined with atrocities still more galling, the Iceni had again recourse to arms. The death of Prasutagus, their King, and the impolitic arrangements of his will, by which he appointed the Emperor Nero his heir, thinking that he should thus secure his family and kingdom from ruin, furnished the Romans with a pretext for coercive measures, and with the most insulting rapacity the native chiefs were deprived of their estates, the whole kingdom of the Iceni was pillaged by the centurions, and the house of Prasutagus by slaves, as if it had been taken in war. His widow, the brave Boadicea was ignominiously scourged, and her daughters were violated by the Roman officers. Provoked at this treatment, and the fear of worse, if the nation should be reduced to a province, they took up arms, in conjunction with the Trinobanti, and other nations, not yet accustomed to slavery. In this exterminating war Boadicea cut off 80,000 Romans and their allies, and destroyed the colony of Camalodunum, (Colchester) and the Municium of Verulam, (St. Alban’s) routed the ninth legion, and defeated Caius Decianus, the procurator; the inhabitants of London were likewise massacred with unsparing fury, in consequence of their being in alliance with the Romans. Suetonius Paulinus, the Roman general, was in Anglesea at the commencement of the insurrection, but immediately marched to arrest the progress of the foe, whose number had increased to near 300,000 men. The utmost that he could oppose to this immense forge was an army of scarcely 10,000; but these were veteran soldiers, accustomed to victory, and regardless of every thing except the disgrace of discomfiture. With this intrepid band, Paulinus awaited the threatened attack, in a spot encircled with woods, narrow at the entrance, and sheltered in the rear by a thick forest, the enemy being extended over an open plain, in his front. The sanguinary conflict terminated in the total defeat of the Britons, who, flushed by their former success, fought in such tumultuous disorder, that their numbers tended only to their own destruction. “The glory of the day (says Tacitus) was equal to the most splendid victory of ancient times. The waggons in the rear of the Britons obstructed their flight: a dreadful slaughter followed. Neither sex nor age was spared; and the cattle falling in one promiscuous carnage, added to the heaps of the slain.” The pursuit having ceased, the British chiefs endeavoured to collect their scattered troops, and for some time kept the field, but were fearful of again contending with the Roman power. Boadicea, with unbroken spirit, put at end to her life by poison, according to Tacitus; though according to Dio, she died of illness.

From this period history is silent as to the annals of the Iceni as a separate nation. The counties they inhabited were included by the Romans in the division, called Flavin Cæsarien is, but were formed by the Saxons into a distinct kingdom, and named East Anglia, at which time the county of Huntingdon was called Huntedunescyre, and Huntandunescyrc. It was afterwards, however, subjugated by the Mercian sovereigns, and continued under their dominion till the union of the Saxon states into one monarchy under Egbert. “In the decline of the Saxon government (says Camden) this county had an officiary earl (named) Siward; for earldoms were yet hereditary in England, but the governors of shires were, according to the custom of that period, called Earls, with the additional title of the shires they presided over; as this Siward, while governor here, was called Earl of Huntingdon; but afterwards having the government of Northumberland conferred on him was called Earl of Northumberland”

When Henry I. married Matilda, the daughter of Malcolm Canmore, king of Scotland, her brother Edgar was. in possession of the three northern counties; but David, brother to the queen, having married the widow of Simon de-Liz, earl of Huntingdon, Henry gave his kinsman this county, as being most likely to prevent the king of Scotland from making incursions into England during the time that Henry was at war with the French; but on Stephen de Blois usurping the crown of England, David, according to the oath be had taken to support the empress Matilda, his niece, whose right it was to succeed her father Henry on the English throne, invaded England with a powerful army, his son Henry also assisting the empress in person. T his enraged Stephen to such a degree, that he seized on the earldom of Huntingdon, and gave it to one of his favourites; but Henry, prince of Scotland, obtained possession of it from Stephen of York, and kept it till his death in the year 1152.

On Henry the Second’s arrival in England, David king of Scotland conferred upon him the honour of knighthood at Carlisle, and obtained a grant of this earldom for his grandson Malcolm; and it was also held by his other grandson William, who gave it to his brother David.

Richard I. confirmed David by patent in the whole right of this county, and from him, by the female line, Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, was descended, whose daughter Margaret, married Walter Stuart, a powerful Scotch lord. From her descended the royal family of Stuart, and by the marriage of the princess Elizabeth to the king of Bohemia, the present august family came to the throne of Great Britain.

Since the reign of Edward III. the earldom of Huntingdon has been in the possession of the Clintons, de Grays, the Hollands, and the Hastings; in the latter family it continued till the decease of Francis, tenth and last earl of this family, in the year 1789, when the title became extinct.

POPULATION, &c

The papulation of this county, consisted, according to the late returns of 37,563 inhabitants, viz, 18,521 males, and 19,047 females; of whom 9,536 were returned as being employed in agriculture; and 4,484 in trade, manufacture, or handicraft. Huntingdonshire returns four members to parliament; viz. two for the county, and two for the town of Huntingdon.

RIVERS, &c

The principal rivers of this county are the Nen, or Nene; and the Ouse.

The Nen rises in Northamptonshire, and after flowing through a delighful vale, reaches Huntingdonshire near Elton, where it becomes the boundary between the two counties, and meandering to the north, passes Yarwell and Wandsford, and after winding to the east through a more level country, it pursues a devious course to Peterborough, below which it sinks into the Fens, and winds slowly onward to the German Ocean, into which it falls, near Wisbeach.

T he Ouse rises near Brackly in Northamptonshire and after passing by Buckingham, Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnel, Olney, and Bedford, enters this county between St. Neot’s and Little Paxton, and in its northern course towards Huntingdon is increased by a combination of small streams from the north-west. Having passed that town, it assumes an easterly direction, and flowing by the west end of St. Ives, becomes, near Holywell, the boundary between this county and Cambridgeshire, till it enters the Great Level of the Fens in the neighbourhood of Frith, and from thence falls into the German Sea, a little below Lynn, in Norfolk. This river is navigable along its whole line across this county.

Several smaller streams water the north-east side of this county, together with several large meres or pools of water; of these Whittlesea Mere is by far the largest, covering an area of several miles extent, being about five miles in length, and between two and three in breadth. “This clear lake (says Camden) extends itself in a very fenny part of the county; but the inhabitants reckon that the thickness of the air is compensated by the advantages of the fishery, the plentiful pasturage, and the quantity of turf so fit for firing. King Canute ordered the fen to be parcelled out among the several towns upon it by Turkill the Dane, who divided it in such a manner that each town had firm land abutting on the opposite fen. He ordained that no township should dig or mow without leave in the fen belonging to another, and that they should all have a common right of pasturage, i. e. horn under horn, in order to maintain peace and harmony among them.” This mere is frequently agitated in a violent manner as if by a tempest, and Holland says, “it doth sometimes, in calms and faire weather, sodainly rise tempestuously, as it were, into violent water-quakes, to the danger of the poore fishermen, by reason, as some thinke, of evaporations breaking violently out of the bowels of the earthe.“

“When the sons and servants of Canute, sent from Peterborough to Ramsey, were crossing this lake, a most violent storm arose, with a whirlwind, as they were cheerfully sailing along, amusing themselves with singing, and enveloped them on every side, so that they absolutely despaired of their lives, as well as of assistance. But the mercy of the Almighty did not quite fail them, nor suffer the dreadful gulph to swallow them up; but mercifully, from his providence, delivered some of them from those raging waves, and permitted the rest, according to the secret workings of his righteous judgment, to pass out of this frail life in the midst of those waves. When the report of this danger reached the king’s ears, fear and trembling laid hold on him; but after he had recovered himself, by the advice of his nobles and friends, to prevent, for the future, the misfortunes occasioned by this raging element, he caused a dyke to be marked out by his soldiers and servants in the adjoining marshes between Ramsey and Whittlesea, and afterwards to be cleared by labourers; whence, as we learn by the credible testimony of our predecessors, some of the neighbouring inhabitants gave that dyke the name of Swerdesdelf, from its having been marked out with swords.” (Hist. Eliensis).

This dyke is now commonly called Steed's Dyke, and is accounted the boundary between this county and Cambridgeshire.

Whittlesea Mere affords excellent sailing and fishing, and is in the summer season much frequented by parties of pleasure. Some ideas of draining it have been entertained, and the scheme is not deemed impracticable, though it is opposed by many persons from an unwillingness of being “deprived of so beautiful a piece of water, or of losing the excellent fish it produces.” Most of the meres are visited by abundance of wild fowl.

CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL DIVISIONS

The county of Huntingdon is divided into four hundreds, viz. Norman’s Cross, Leighton Stone, Huntingstone, and Toseland, which contain one borough, Huntingdon, and five market towns, viz, Kimbolton, Ramsey, St. Ives, St. Neots, and Yaxley. The number of houses were estimated, according to the late act at 6,976.

Huntingdonshire is in the province of Canterbury, and the diocese of Lincoln, and is included in the Norfolk circuit.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

Most Common Surnames in Huntingdonshire

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in England
1Smith1,1661:510.32%1
2Wright4511:1310.52%9
3Brown4281:1380.28%4
4King4071:1450.69%29
5Hall3821:1540.46%13
6Clark3461:1700.49%18
7Allen3181:1850.59%33
8Cooper2871:2050.42%20
9Richardson2781:2120.60%44
10Green2741:2150.34%15
11Chapman2691:2190.67%55
12Woods2421:2431.38%171
13Peacock2381:2482.57%378
14Baxter2281:2581.70%238
15Mason2261:2610.61%65
16Robinson2151:2740.23%8
17White2141:2750.25%11
18Carter2121:2780.43%39
19Taylor2091:2820.12%2
19Baker2091:2820.33%24
21Johnson2041:2890.21%7
22Hill2021:2920.29%19
23Wilson1981:2980.20%6
24Cox1971:2990.45%49
25Ward1881:3130.30%25
26Clarke1741:3390.30%31
27Thompson1711:3450.20%12
27Edwards1711:3450.29%30
29Day1691:3490.62%89
29Papworth1691:34914.57%2,969
31Cook1681:3510.31%34
32Newman1661:3550.76%122
33Bird1621:3640.74%121
34Mitchell1611:3660.39%52
35Jackson1541:3830.20%16
36Watson1501:3930.29%37
37Bull1491:3951.20%269
37Haynes1491:3951.42%331
39Burton1471:4010.60%103
40Bedford1461:4042.09%494
41Butler1441:4090.52%88
42Turner1391:4240.18%17
42Stokes1391:4241.16%285
44Palmer1381:4270.41%73
44Bellamy1381:4273.20%859
44Shelton1381:4273.95%1,078
47Martin1361:4330.23%27
48Walker1351:4360.16%14
48Newton1351:4360.61%120
50James1341:4400.35%62
50Gray1341:4400.50%92
50Freeman1341:4400.73%162
50Gale1341:4401.64%426
54Watts1321:4460.56%110
54Ayres1321:4463.23%913
56Marshall1311:4500.32%54
56Saunders1311:4500.52%101
58Knight1291:4570.37%69
59Rowell1271:4644.95%1,427
60Hodson1241:4752.02%572
61Parker1231:4790.24%35
61Rose1231:4790.62%142
63Reed1211:4870.58%128
63Read1211:4870.64%156
65Norman1191:4950.91%245
65Abbott1191:4950.92%250
65Clifton1191:4952.87%897
68Page1161:5080.51%117
68Maile1161:50828.93%7,098
70Holmes1141:5170.33%71
71Jones1121:5260.07%3
72Adams1111:5310.29%63
72Dring1111:5318.28%2,622
74Cade1101:53611.87%3,611
75Payne1091:5410.47%111
76Chandler1081:5461.14%370
76Prior1081:5461.63%522
78Childs1051:5611.99%697
79Webb1041:5670.27%56
80Cross1031:5720.53%150
80Bass1031:5723.08%1,135
80Gaunt1031:5723.52%1,266
83Ellis1021:5780.28%64
83Cooke1021:5780.64%188
83Coles1021:5781.04%355
86Barnes1011:5830.29%68
87Moore1001:5890.18%32
87Upchurch1001:58930.49%8,151
89Stevens991:5950.33%79
89Gilbert991:5950.63%192
91Phillips981:6010.28%70
91Garner981:6011.05%377
91Chamberlain981:6011.24%435
94Fordham971:6074.06%1,546
95Harvey961:6140.34%86
95Chambers961:6140.60%190
97Butcher951:6200.77%268
98Mills941:6270.26%67
98Cole941:6270.37%98
100Townsend921:6410.75%274
101Ekins911:64817.95%5,926
102Briggs901:6550.57%194
103Jarvis891:6620.70%258
104Sharman881:6702.16%921
105Shepherd871:6770.45%149
105Middleton871:6770.65%241
107Wood861:6850.10%10
107Harper861:6850.54%193
107Noble861:6850.90%367
107Bradshaw861:6850.72%286
107Storey861:6851.16%467
107Ray861:6851.62%691
107Peach861:6853.65%1,570
114Scott851:6930.18%42
114Fox851:6930.33%96
114Colbert851:69318.20%6,311
117Hunt831:7100.21%59
117Osborne831:7100.62%239
117Bruce831:7101.46%644
117Abraham831:7103.31%1,461
121Fuller821:7190.69%288
121Stratton821:7193.68%1,676
121Kilby821:7194.94%2,185
124Barker811:7270.21%60
124Ball811:7270.34%105
124Wade811:7270.70%306
124Brawn811:72714.94%5,596
128Harrison801:7370.13%23
128Marriott801:7371.21%521
130Lewis791:7460.19%53
130Howes791:7461.52%707
132Howard771:7650.27%84
132Hart771:7650.34%115
132Gifford771:7653.77%1,816
135Foster761:7750.20%61
135Pearson761:7750.26%82
135Hewitt761:7750.55%225
135Lenton761:7755.15%2,407
135Linnell761:77511.31%4,721
140Richards751:7860.24%77
141Fisher731:8070.24%78
141Glover731:8070.60%279
141Ruff731:8077.91%3,625
144Lee721:8180.15%43
144Knighton721:8186.87%3,240
146Spencer711:8300.27%93
147Harris701:8420.11%21
148Jordan691:8540.55%262
148Flint691:8541.35%717
148Squires691:8541.66%895
148Paine691:8541.75%951
152Reynolds681:8670.29%112
152Greenwood681:8670.30%113
152Measures681:8678.35%4,020
152Murden681:86713.31%5,880
156Webster671:8790.31%123
156Perkins671:8790.64%330
156Mayes671:8792.44%1,335
156Cunnington671:8795.50%2,846
156Medlock671:87914.79%6,458
156Allpress671:87928.03%10,250
162Goodwin661:8930.46%212
162Woodward661:8930.46%213
164Bennett651:9070.14%45
164Dean651:9070.32%138
164Barber651:9070.37%174
164Meadows651:9071.57%902
164Henson651:9071.88%1,094
164Jeffs651:9072.84%1,628
164Laxton651:9077.13%3,665
164Flanders651:9079.34%4,588
164Gowler651:90726.53%10,063
164Staughton651:90774.71%19,488
174Franklin641:9210.66%358
174Hodge641:9211.11%632
174Nightingale641:9211.28%737
174Stocker641:9214.08%2,297
174Darlow641:92110.22%4,986
179Hudson631:9350.26%107
179Austin631:9350.46%230
179Godfrey631:9350.74%407
179Joyce631:9350.92%508
183Warren621:9500.32%152
183Spriggs621:9504.21%2,414
183Beeby621:9506.16%3,359
186Frost611:9660.37%180
187Hughes601:9820.13%47
187West601:9820.22%91
187Hubbard601:9820.83%478
187Linford601:9827.57%4,096
191Evans591:9990.10%28
191Young591:9990.14%50
191Smart591:9990.58%338
191Leach591:9990.49%281
191Hardwick591:9991.33%839
191Stanyon591:99919.47%8,644
197Barnard581:1,0160.79%475
197Horner581:1,0161.04%656
197Broughton581:1,0161.05%662
197Hitchcock581:1,0161.71%1,118
197Favell581:1,01614.57%7,142