Dear All, John is quite correct. There was a significant agricultural depression after the Napoleonic Wars were finished in 1815 which last for nearly 20 years. Wages for ag labs was particularly depressed and most had to call on Parish Relief to feed their families. Many landowners, faced with depressed farm prices, enclosed their lands, further displacing ag labs. Rather than remain in such depressed conditions, many families migrated to other parts of the British Isles, particularly the towns, or even overseas. Have a great day!! Warmest regards, Terry Waters-Marsh FreeCEN Country Coordinator for England FreeCEN County Coordinator for Wiltshire, Somerset (1891) & Dorset - ask me more!! I read the latest genie news at http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/index.php?referrerid=84 -----Original Message----- From: John Waldron [mailto:john_waldron@tiscali.co.uk] Sent: Tuesday, 23 May 2006 5:20 PM To: ENG-WILTSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [ENG-WIL] Opinions needed please Hi Laura, Please don't be dissuaded by the distances involved. I have ancestors from Ogbourne St Andrew, just south of Ogbourne St George, and those born about the time of your ancestor Hannah or Ann almost all left the village. My own ancestor finished up in Kensington, Middlesex. There was a considerable migration to the towns from the countryside at the turn of the 1800's. The Ogbournes do not seen to have been immune from this. Kind regards John Waldron -----Original Message----- From: Dave Dixon [mailto:dg.dixon@ntlworld.com] Sent: 22 May 2006 21:33 To: ENG-WILTSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ENG-WIL] Opinions needed please ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laura Thomas" <ellie.thomas@ntlworld.com> To: <ENG-WILTSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 9:13 PM Subject: Re: [ENG-WIL] Opinions needed please Hi Laura, You said "Given that Ogbourne St George is just a few miles from Melksham" The distance between the two places is 19 miles. (A six hour walk). All the best Dave Dixon -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.6.1/344 - Release Date: 19/05/2006 ==== ENG-WILTSHIRE Mailing List ==== Other subscribers are more likely to help you if you make it as easy as possible. Give us the information you have that will enable someone to do the lookup. ============================== Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx ==== ENG-WILTSHIRE Mailing List ==== Use the link within a GATEWAYED message to reply. Message board users are rarely subscribed to the list. ============================== Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx