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Victorian credit crunch…

The stigma of debt was one that was ingrained deep into the psyche of the Victorian people, and was a subject that popular writers such as Dickens and Gaskell returned to repeatedly in their novels.

The consequences of debt could be dire. The debtor’s home and assets could be seized, and in the early part of the Victorian era they could be thrown into Debtors’ prison – along with their wife and children – until they had paid what they owed. If they were unable to pay, they could declare bankruptcy but not before all their belongings and home had been taken.

Findmypast.com has just added 33,000 records from The Bankrupt Directory.  These reveal the details for all bankruptcies, between December 1820 and April 1843, which appeared in The London Gazette.  The level of detail differs from record to record, but usually you will discover a person’s home street and town, their occupation or trade, and the date that they appeared in The London Gazette. The records cover a large number of counties across England and Wales. They cost eight credits each, or are free to view with an Explorer subscription.

Sample bankruptcy record

Search for your ancestors in the bankruptcy records now