This CD contains the three great gazetteers published by Samuel Lewis in the early to mid-1800s: (1) A Topographical Dictionary of England (4 vols.); (2) A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (2 vols.); and (3) A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland (2 vols.). A gazetteer, or topographical dictionary, describes the political, social, cultural, and physical features of a particular locale. Of critical importance to the genealogist is the fact that even the most obscure places in England, Ireland, and Scotland are identified in relation to a parish and in most cases to a specific church, leading in turn to the identification of parish records. Thus, if you know the place of origin of your ancestor--the village or town--these gazetteers will show you which parish records to search for births, marriages, and deaths. Apart from their obvious genealogical value, these gazetteers are fascinating and illuminating in themselves, bringing to life the ancestral homes and villages that until now have existed in name only, or as part of family lore and tradition.