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Cumberland 

Published in 1828, Pigot's Directory entry for Cumberland begins: "Cumberland is a maritime and northern county, bounded on the west by the Irish sea, on the east by the counties of Northumberland and Durham, on the south by those of Westmorland and Lancashire, and on the north it is separated from Scotland by the waters of the Solway, the Scot's dyke, and the river Liddal. The greatest extent of the county is about 80 miles, but its mean length is not more than 60; its general breadth is 35, and its circumference 224 miles...

At the time of the Norman conquest Cumberland was so impoverished, that William the Conqueror remitted all its taxations; for which reason it is not rated in the Domesday book as other counties are.

The surface of this county is extremely irregular and broken; the districts to the south west exhibit a gigantic combination of lofty and rugged mountains, promiscuously thrown together, but enclosing many beautiful though narrow valleys, as well as fine lakes, rivers and some extensive woodlands; on the east side another range of hills stretches away to Scotland...

The mineralogical productions of this county are rich and varied, and include lead, copper and iron ores, zinc cobalt, antimony and black lead... The principal manufactures of Cumberland are the spinning and manufacturing of cotton into various fabrics, and calico-printing..."

Family History, Genealogy and Local History Research Information for Cumberland