Research Forum

Is it Wonderstone or Understone at Bleadon?
published by Pat Hase on Fri, 08/07/2022 - 23:17

Looking at the censuses for Bleadon I notice that the address for some people can be Wonderstone or Understone, depending on the census. I assume that this is the Wonderstone that we know today. Does anyone know whether it was ever known as Understone or is this a case of the enumerator writing down what they thought they heard?

Comments ..

Submitted by zumrob on Sun, 10/07/2022 - 21:12

The 6 inch OS map from 1884 shows Wonderstone - no sign of a place called Understone.

The maps available at https://maps.nls.uk/ (National Library of Scotland) are great for identifying places.

Cheers Rob

Submitted by LeedsChris on Mon, 31/10/2022 - 19:45

Pat, Yes I think it is Wonderstone. My 3xG grandparents (Joseph and Jane/Jean Grenter) lived in this location in 1851 and 1861. I think the enumerator couldn't spell or didn't hear and understand what people were saying. The reason I think this is so is because if you look at the pages either side of the entries for 'Understone' (now Wonderstone), you can find 'South Farm' (which is now South Hill Farm') before those entries and also 'Shiplett (sic) Hill and Shiplett (now Shiplate) on the pages that follow, so we are definitely in the area along the Shiplate Road.

Submitted by Pat Hase on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 10:02

Thank you. I agree with you! Another reason for always looking at the original if possible. And for looking on either side of your family to discover their neighbours, their addresses, occupations etc. It all gives a picture of where your ancestor lived.

Submitted by LeedsChris on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 15:53

Yes, definitely.. you can often learn a lot by looking at the originals rather than transcripts and checking the pages before and after the record you are interested in.