Betts of Southwark

On first becoming interested in one’s ancestors the new researcher will these days have a starry-eyed view of what information is available.   Recent television programmes have fostered the impression that all one needs to do is to “get on-line” and all will be revealed.  Births marriages & deaths back to 1837 and the census returns back to 1841 are readily accessible.   Then the TV personality goes into a Record Office (or “County Archives” these days) the information sought is immediately produced by the archivist and very interesting it is too.   Would that it were quite so easy.

The truth is that not everybody has a fascinating tale to tell; your average ancestor usually led a fairly boring life and documents pertaining to him are often sparse and predictable.  But not here.   The Betts came from London pre the Great Fire of 1666.   Not only that but some were tolerably well-off and, more to the point, many were members of the London Guilds and Livery Companies.   These organisations of necessity kept very good records of their members and are a mine of information.   Our Betts were predominantly members of the Watermen & Lightermen but surfaced in at least six more.   Consequently there were more than the usual visits to London to consult these records and to that haven of peace and information, the Guildhall Library.   It was almost a shame when we felt we had to wind up Betts research, head off to pastures new and see what some other of our ancestors were up to.

Hopefully this brief account will inspire others to get beyond the World Wide Web. 

Home - Hole - Faulkner - Betts - Williams - Prince - Clarkson - Headford - Green - Passmore - Rashleigh - Lovell -  Bray - Holt - Rowe - Stoodley

© 2007 G & B Faulkner