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Archiver > NEW-ZEALAND > 2007-10 > 1193894651


From: Michael & Bridgit <>
Subject: Re: [NZ] Prisoner of debt - sources of information
Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:24:11 +1300
In-Reply-To: <978666.37171.qm@web35307.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


Margaret expressed a wish to learn more about a debtor in Victorian times.

Well, I just read an article in the current November 2007 Edition of
'Ancestors' magazine which I obtained from my local library here in Takapuna
(I must have been lucky enough to find it on the shelves first).

It has an 8 page article entitled 'Dickens and Debt' that uses reference to
Charles Dickens' novels to illustrate how debt was managed and collected in
Victorian England. The author is David Thomas, Director of technology and
Chief Information Officer at The National Archives at Kew.

The article gives hints about how to track down information on debtors. The
only electronic hint though, at the end of the article, suggests using
resources such as the London Gazette ( www.gazettes-online.co.uk ) to
extract information about people declared bankrupt, sent to prison or in the
Court for Insolvent Debtors.

It also lists some book resources and describes a group called the Thatched
House Society that made efforts to help these people and their records
apparently list many debtors in the period 1813 to 1869. While no indication
is given as to where the Society's records are kept, illustrations are
provided that indicate to me that these are available somewhere in England -
probably at the National Archives. A quick google also shows books/articles
have been written.

All in all - the article is a good reference point for someone trying to
track down debtor records in Victorian England. An e-mail to the author
might help track something down in terms of resources.

Now, how's this for a quick magazine article review! I admit to having read
it more from the Dickens perspective than the genealogical perspective but
perhaps I better scan this article now before I return it tomorrow - if I
can get my scanner to work!

Michael, Auckland


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