Access to Archives (A2A)
A2A is a realisation for England of the scheme for a United Kingdom archive network. A2A aims to create a virtual national archives catalogue, bringing together a critical mass of information about the rich national archival heritage and making that information available globally from one source via the World Wide Web. The historical records to be covered by A2A are of national, regional and local importance and date from periods between the twelfth and twentieth centuries. They are held in geographically dispersed archives offices in England, and many have been comparatively under-recognised in the past.
A2A stands alongside sister projects in Scotland, Wales and the higher education sector, which together will constitute an archives network across the UK. The provision of catalogue information from archive bodies of every kind (national, local, specialist, private) across the country but via a single search on a single Web site will open up archives to the whole public, in England, the UK and world wide.
This database contains catalogues of archives submitted to A2A from all over England from these sources.
The database is detailed, covers a variety of archives, and will be regularly updated - but it does not offer total coverage of all English archives. The catalogues it contains have been drawn up over time: some of them are very full, some are more summary. It is planned to include new catalogues for archives which are currently difficult to access.
The archives this database will describe date from the 12th to the 20th centuries and cover a wide range of subjects. They are useful for family history, local history and school, higher education and further education projects. Anyone with an interest in the past will find them worth a look.
A2A contact - Accessing your archives
Access to Archives (A2A), first launched in 2000, is a single online database, a remarkable means of finding what you want among a huge volumes of archives held in a wide range of places across England and Wales. The records in the database are as diverse as the contributing archives. Thanks to local groups contributing their material through the Archives 4 All part of the programme, alongside national and local archive repositories, you can find entries for archives that include community photographs, maps, letters and a wide range of personal papers.
Financed by an award from the Treasury's 'Invest to Save Budget' in 2000, and largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the A2A programme, which has been supported by The National Archives and the British Library, is an innovative database, described by Vic Gray, Convenor of CADG, as "the most significant attempt yet to bring British archives, in all their richness, to the desktop of the enquirer, wherever he or she may be, in any corner of the world".
The National Archives celebrated the final phase at a recent event attended by partners, stakeholders past and present, and members of the public. Speakers from a cross-section of the archival community gave insightful accounts of how A2A has affected their projects and local communities.
The current Chief Executive of the National Archives, Natalie Ceeney, paid tribute to the success of A2A.
"It's testament to its popularity and success that what started as a relatively small database 7 years ago when it was launched, now contains over 10 million records relating to 9.35 million items held in over 400 records offices and other repositories throughout England and Wales dating from the eighth century to the present day."
After March 2008 no further new material will be added to the A2A site, but the website itself will continue as a resource to be used by everyone with access to the internet.
The website is being moved to a robust platform to facilitate the continued updating of material already in A2A. For more information about projects involved in Archives 4 please go to blog.
If you haven't used it go and find out what A2A can tell you about your chosen place or subject of interest. The database can be found at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 29 May 2014.
Ramsdale and variants
As of 2000 there were 35 entries for the surname Ramsdale, 4 entries under Ramsdell but no entries for the variant surnames Ramsdal, Ramsdaille, Ramsdill and Ramsdil.
East Riding Quarter Sessions Records: Quarter Sessions File of Recognizances for Michaelmas 1797 Reference: QSF/357/C/7 Creation dates: c1797 George Lancaster of Beverley: Benjamin Wilson & wife Mary to appear & keep peace towards Thomas Ramsdale of Market Weighton. East Riding Quarter Sessions Records: Quarter Session File of Recognizances for Midsummer 1729 Reference: QSF/85/D/1 Creation dates: c1729 John Walker and John Scot both of Holme on Spalding Moor: - J.W. to answer complaint of Robert Ramsdale of Holme. East Riding Quarter Sessions Records: Quarter Sessions File of Recognizances for Easter 1763 Reference: QSF/219/C/7 Creation dates: c1763 Thomas Story innholder and John Frost butcher both of Bridlington Quay, and Matthew Ramsdale of Buckton gardener: - appearance of T.S. Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Ormskirk: Easter 1756 File - Bedford. Order for maintenance of Adam, bastard child of Thomas Ramsdale, and Mary Marsh, singlewoman - ref. QSP/1729/18 - date: 2 March 1756 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Ormskirk: Midsummer 1792 File - Hindley. Order of filiation and maintenance of Alice, bastard child of John Kearsley of Westleigh, husbandman, and Esther wife of Thomas Ramsdale of Hindley, weaver - ref. QSP/2309/61 - date: 1 June 1792 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Wigan: Epiphany 1800 File - Culcheth. Order of filiation and maintenance of Ann, bastard child of John Hesford, carpenter, and Betty Ramsdale, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2429/105 - date: 20 November 1799 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Wigan: Michaelmas 1802 File - Atherton. Order of filiation and maintenance of Margret, bastard child of James Ramsdale, collier, and Peggy Aldred, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2474/56 - date: 24 September 1802 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Wigan: Michaelmas 1809 File - Warrington. Order of filiation and maintenance of Mary, bastard child of James Ramsdale, miller, and Jane Wrench, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2586/77 - date: 6 September 1809 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Wigan: Epiphany 1814 File - Warrington. Order of filiation and maintenance of Jane, bastard child of William Hayes, whitesmith, and Jane Ramsdale, widow - ref. QSP/2655/68 - date: 15 December 1813 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Ormskirk: Easter 1815 File - Notice of adjudication of settlement of Dorothy Ramsdale, singlewoman, member of a Friendly Society at Westhoughton, to be in Westhoughton - ref. QSP/2680/146 - date: 14 February 1815 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Ormskirk: Midsummer 1815 File - Hindley. Order of filiation and maintenance of John Goore, weaver, and Ellen Ramsdale, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2685/105 - date: 17 June 1815 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Liverpool: Midsummer 1820 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of James Dixon and Samuel and Thomas Ramsdale - ref. QSP/2771/158 - date: c1820 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Easter 1823 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of Samuel Ramsdale - ref. QSP/2815/126 - date: c1823 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Midsummer 1824 File - Culcheth. Order of filiation and maintenance of Jane, bastard child of Henry Heyes of Astley, weaver, and Alice Ramsdale, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2835/57 - date: 19 June 1824 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Michaelmas 1824 File - Culcheth. Order of filiation and maintenance of Edward, bastard child of Henry Ball of Pennington, servant, and Ann Ramsdale, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2839/81 - date: 2 October 1824 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Preston: Easter 1826 File - Withnell. Order of filiation and maintenance of bastard son of John Southworth of Hoghton, weaver, and Ann Ramsdale, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2862/104 - date: 7 March 1826 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Midsummer 1833 File - Bedford to Culcheth. Order of removal of Elizabeth Ramsdale, singlewoman - ref. QSP/2986/40 - date: 15 June 1833 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Midsummer 1839 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of James Ramsdale - ref. QSP/3109/64 - date: c1839 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Michaelmas 1840 File - Astley and Westhoughton, Instructions for motion that order of removal of James Ramsdale and his family be set aside - ref. QSP/3136/3 - date: 5 November 1840 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Michaelmas 1840 File - Astley and Westhoughton, Instructions for motion that order of removal of James Ramsdale and his family be set aside - ref. QSP/3136/3 - date: 5 November 1840 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Michaelmas 1840 File - Astley to Westhoughton. Order of removal of James Ramsdale, Mary his wife and Ellen, John and Margaret their children - ref. QSP/3136/11 - date: 17 September 1840 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Easter 1842 File - Pennington and Westhoughton. Instructions for motion that appeal against order of removal of William Ramsdale, be entered and respited - ref. QSP/3172/2 - date: c1842 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Epiphany 1844 File - Pennington and Westhoughton. Instructions for motion that order of removal of William Ramsdale and family be set aside - ref. QSP/3214/21 - date: c1844 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Michaelmas 1745 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of John Ramsdale - ref. QSP/3256/109 - date: c1845 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Salford: Easter 1846 File - Westhoughton to Atherton. Notice and order of removal of James Morris, Ann is wife and William, Betty, Mary, Catherine, Ann, Jane and James their children, with depositions: examinations of Catherine Ramsdale, of Tyldesley with Shakerley, widow, and James Morris - ref. QSP/3267/7 - date: 27 October 1845 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Midsummer 1849 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of James Ramsdale - ref. QSP/3346/57 - date: c1849 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Michaelmas 1850 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of William Ramsdale - ref. QSP/3376/72 - date: c1850 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Midsummer 1851 File - Certificate of expenses of Thomas Ramsdale and Thomas Mewburn, witnesses in case against Thomas Hornby and another - ref. QSP/3394/38 - date: 30 June 1851 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Epiphany 1852 File - Certificate of expenses of William Ratcliffe, William Ramsdale and Thomas Prescott for attendance as witnesses in case against Roger Massey - ref. QSP/3406/85 - date: 19 January 1852 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Epiphany 1858 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of Samuel Ramsdale and George Kerfoot for larceny - ref. QSP/3550/80 - date: c1858 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Michaelmas 1867 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of John Ramsdale for larceny and receiving - ref. QSP/3784/60 - date: c1867 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Easter 1873 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of Hannah Berry and Ann Ramsdale for larceny and receiving - ref. QSP/3915/54 - date: c1873 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Kirkdale: Easter 1873 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of Hannah Berry and Ann Ramsdale for larceny and receiving - ref. QSP/3915/55 - date: c1873 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions Liverpool: Easter 1898 File - Bill of costs of prosecution of John Ramsdale for attempted rape - ref. QSP/4540/18 - date: c1898 Worcestershire Record Office: Quarter Sessions [1/1/631 - 1/1/680] Quarter Sessions Rolls File - Sessions 1822 Easter - ref. 1/1/657 - date: 1822 Item: Easter 1822: Complaint of Richard King, Bromsgrove, of Crab Mill Inn, that William Ramsdale & David Clarke refused to leave at closing time - all others went, but Martin Duffie & Samuel Clarke came back insisting they be let in - fight ensued & Constable James King called. - ref. 1/1/657/105-106 [n.d.] East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Records Service: Quarter Sessions [QSF/51 - QSF/100] Quarter Sessions Files for Michaelmas 1725 File of Recognizances File [no title] - ref. QSF/70/C/25 - date: c1725 [extract] … Robert Ramsdell, John Westoby and William Railer all of Holme in Spaldingmoor: - R.R. and J.W. to appear and keep peace towards Samuell Watson of Holme. … Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions [QSP 1723-1818] Petitions Ormskirk: Easter 1757 File - Note of discharge of Thomas Ramsdell from gaol - ref. QSP/1745/35 - date: c1757 Lancashire Record Office: Lancashire County Quarter Sessions Petitions [QSP 2283-2330] Petitions Ormskirk: Easter 1793 File - Aughton. Order of filiation and maintenance of bastard daughter of William Ramsdell of Hindley, weaver, and Alice Southern, single woman - ref. QSP/2321/40 - date: 1793 4 Mar London Metropolitan Archives: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session [MJ/SPC/E/1300 - MJ/SPC/E/4600] Sessions Papers Coroners' Papers: Eastern District File - St John, Hackney: Medicus Ramsdell: Cut his throat while 'lunatic' - ref. MJ/SPC/E/1532 [n.d.]