| BEFORE 
              YOU SEARCH ********* 
              please read this *********   This 
              is a database of Bal maidens, ie. WOMEN & GIRLS. 
              Type in the details you wish to search and click on the submit button. 
              If 
                you put nothing in the boxes you will get the entire 
                database of  30,4279 results! If you put too 
                  much you may get a NIL result, but the 
                person you are searching for may still be there. Try 
              just the Surname (or even a short version of the surname) 
              first. If this gives too many results then try 
              adding First Name, or even just the first 
              letter.  If you have difficulty, please use the CONTACT 
              US button (TOP LEFT) for help. Names 
              have been recorded as spelled in the original document, so you will 
              need to have an open mind on how they might have been written. Many heads of household will not have been literate! The 
              way you spell your surname now may be different from the way it 
              was recorded 150 years ago. For example the name Jelbard 
              may be spelled JELBART or JELBERD, GILBARD, 
              or even GILBERT. Best 
              results are obtained by putting in the first few letters only, 
              or alternatively consult our Name Variants page for different options 
              of Surnames and First Names.  BEWARE 
              OF THE SPACEBAR - Ann will find Ann, Anne, Annie, Annette, BUT Ann(space) 
              will only find Ann. FIRST 
              NAMES may well have been changed to a preferred form (Eleanor, 
              Ellen, Nel, Nelly etc), or alternatively spelled incorrectly by 
              Enumerator or Transcriber. It is often better to omit these 
              from the search form. 
               
                | Because 
                    of the large number of searchers who fail to find what they 
                    are looking for, simply because they put in too much 
                    information, we have removed the Place of 
                    Residence and Place of Birth boxes 
                    from the search. This information is still displayed 
                    on the search results. If you wish to search for 
                    all bal maidens born or resident in a particular place, please 
                    use the CONTACT US button, and we will search for you. |  
            Name Variants   PLEASE CAN YOU HELP?  You may have information which will help us fill in some gaps. Please go to our  CAN YOU HELP page   
               
                |  
                    If 
                      you have names, corrections, or information to add to our 
                      database, please email us, using the  button in the top left corner of the page. |       |