Transcribed from the [1899] “Hand and Heart”edition ,
THE ROMANCE
OF
THE LONDON DIRECTORY.
BY
CHARLES W. BARDSLEY, M.A.,
Vicar of Ulverston,
AUTHOR OF“ENGLISH SURNAMES,” ETC.
“This Booke containes the names of mortallmen;
But thear’s a Booke with characters ofgolde,
Not writ with incke, with pensill, or with pen,
Wheare Gode’s elect for ever are inrolde,
The Booke of Life; wheare labor thou to bee,
Beefore this Booke hath once re-gistredthee.”From a Church Register.
London:
“HAND AND HEART” PUBLISHING OFFICES,
1, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C.
[The right of translation isreserved.]
p. 4HAZELL, WATSON,AND VINEY, PRINTERS
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
p.5PREFACE.
When the enterprising and energeticeditor of The Fireside wrote suggesting that he shouldprint my articles on the London Directory, published at variousintervals during the last two years in that magazine, I wassomewhat taken aback. I will candidly confess that half ofthem, or thereabouts, were written with some degree of care: Iwill as honestly admit that the rest were indited amid the pressof heavy ministerial labours, and had to take their chance, asregards manner, method, and matter. Nevertheless, I may addthat, however wanting in order and sequence several chaptersappeared on paper, I was not afraid for the accuracy of theircontents. My only credit for this, supposing my lack offear to be well founded, is that which attaches to diligentresearch. The only true means of discovering the origin ofour surnames is to find the earliest form of entry. Lightupon that, and half the difficulty vanishes. This is ameans which is as open to any of my readers as myself—moreso in the case of those who dwell in the metropolis.
I take this opportunity of apologising to many readers ofThe p.6Fireside, who have written to me asking forinformation in respect of their own, or some other name they wereinterested in. A few I have been able to answer; the resthave had to lie by, for I have not had the time or health toattend to them. I only wish there was the possibility ofthis preface meeting the eye of my American cousins. I havea large batch of letters of inquiry, from the other side of theAtlantic, to scarcely one of which have I been able to makereply. I feel truly sorry, for I would not seem to bewanting in courtesy to one of them. These more distantinquiries have resulted rather from the publication of“English Surnames” (issued by Messrs. Chatto andWindus, Piccadilly), than the articles in TheFireside. And I would take this opportunity ofrecommending such of my readers as have become interested in thescience of nomenclature, through a perusal of these element