Toxteth Trade Directories
toxteth.net->-directories

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Trade directories are a list of addresses and their occupants. Unlike a census, you did not have to co-operate with the publishers, so they contain many gaps. If you find your ancestor then be pleased, but if you don't locate them, then do not read too much into it.
Limitations
Data was gathered the year before publication - so a 1900 edition is based on occupants in 1899.
People can be living at an address but not included in the directory. One thing that you will never find listed are full families, wives, children, ages - trade directories just do not work the way that censuses do.

Omission can be for the following reasons (and others)

 • If you were out when 'the man' called or if you did not wish to be included.
 • If you did not own the property - sometimes the owner may be listed and not the occupants
   (even though your relative was the one living at, or renting, the property).
 • Wives and children are rarely listed, usually just the head-of-house, sometimes a wife is she was in business.
 • Single female occupants or widows may be listed, but not always.
 

	= image of the page
	= is a transcript
-	empty cells = entry not yet checked or prepared
n/c	= not covered i.e. the street is not in the directory, or is not in for that year
n/b	= not built, when this is known and distinct from n/c
1821 and 1834 directories do not have a street index, just a list of occupants with addresses.. In a few cases I have been able to check all entries and make one, but it is slow work.