When an index or manual searching takes you to an ancestral entry in a census, tax or other list entry take times to look at the neighboring names. Are the names in rough alphabetical order? If so neighborhood clues can’t be inferred from the proximity of names.
That is unless all the “B” surnames lived in the same part of the county.
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And when an index appears to be in alphabetical order, more often than not (at least prior to computers), that alphabetical order was rough. There may be 16 pages of names starting with “W,” and if you’re looking for Wards, you’d better check all 16 pages, because those Wards won’t all be on page one.
Interesting information on this subject. Will make a note about this. Thank u.