Ancestors lost in the crowd?
New to family history research?
Perhaps these articles on our website may help:
Census 1841 - 1911

Birth, Death and Marriage Registration

The London Gazette

Newspaper archives

Trade Directories

History of Loughton

Loughton, High Road c1955
Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

History of Loughton >> Loughton Snippets

Loughton Snippets

When researching for this website we often find a little snippet of information on a location or subject which may be of interest. Some are quirky, some show that there is nothing new in this world, and some about the attitudes and morals of the time. [index to snippets] Here is one for Loughton about road rage.

Times Oct 11 1804

A very shocking accident took place a short time ago:- A Mr. Mellish was driving to Newmarket his coach and four, he came up with a higgler*, driving a chaise-cart, near Loughton, in Essex. The man was obstiuate, and would not suffer for Mr. Mellish to pass him; and, on driving his cart across the road to prevent him, forced a heifer that was on the road to run between the coach-horses, and threw all the four animals down.

On Mr. Mellish pursuing his journey, he overtook the man about half a mile further on the road, he evinced the same obstinacy as before, in driving across the road at a very fast rate; the wheel of the chaise caught a post, and threw the driver out of the cart. Mr. Mellish sent for a surgeon, and desired that the man be taken care of, but he died the next day.

*Higgler: An itinerant dealer

Back to History of Loughton

Newspapers could provide a wealth of information about your ancestors or where they lived. See our article on exploring newspaper archives.

Are your ancestors from this location? Why not tell us their story. When were they here? Who were they? What they did they do? Where did they go? Have you an interesting story to tell about them?

Go to the home page of the parish, village or town, and follow the 'My Ancestors' link halfway down the page.