tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38828790108330226912024-03-05T17:32:23.435+00:00Sussex AncestorsA blog for all things Sussex and Genealogical!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07677281320684892964noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-82563000859827076472014-12-31T14:21:00.000+00:002014-12-31T14:23:09.009+00:00Christmas in Sussex<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The appropriately named
Richard Christmas was baptised on Christmas Day 1838 in Chiddingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-pptqvD0QOk_sSQfLGV7Fi7hi1O9ew7sFJlaH7HzdltIZpq2cvS5b8enjzft1ZVo0ji0TrgzVkMiFpihKxm8XR75dfi1Rpm3dN3ElHmaIaIHWV18WbJpIfY8jtQ8xWB6u4XeCLezGx5a/s1600/Christmas+in+Battle+-+baptism+1838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-pptqvD0QOk_sSQfLGV7Fi7hi1O9ew7sFJlaH7HzdltIZpq2cvS5b8enjzft1ZVo0ji0TrgzVkMiFpihKxm8XR75dfi1Rpm3dN3ElHmaIaIHWV18WbJpIfY8jtQ8xWB6u4XeCLezGx5a/s1600/Christmas+in+Battle+-+baptism+1838.jpg" height="78" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Christmas is one of the rarer
surnames (it is ranked 26,344</span>th <span style="font-size: 14pt;">in the world) but it is not so
unusual in Sussex. It may have its
origins with a 12th</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> century Cristemass family although it is often
thought to be a surname given to those involved in organising Christmas
celebrations or to someone born at Christmastime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Richard Christmas’s family
were sometimes recorded as Christmas but more frequently their surname was spelled Chrismas.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Richard's father was Treyton
Chrismas who was born around 1810, possibly the son of James and Sarah Chrismas
of Wartling. Treyton married Mary Ann
Sargeant on the 22</span>nd<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> September 1833 in Ticehurst (this made his wife
Mary Christmas and the marriage was witnessed by Henry Cole aka Old King!). <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Treyton and Mary had a large
family beginning with Frances baptised in Ninfield in 1834 and followed by
Orpah (1835), Benjamin (1837) and Richard; all baptised in Chiddingly. The family then moved to Battle where Treyton
farmed at Beech Farm and the family grew with the addition of Mary (1840),
Tilden (1841),</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Jane</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">(1843), Trayton (1844), Thomas (1847),</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Charles</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">(1848),</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Sarah Elizabeth (1850)</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">and Frederick George (1851).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jane doesn’t appear in the 1851
census with the family so it’s probable she died in infancy despite the lack of
burial record and there is no baptism record for Thomas but he appears with the
family in 1851. Treyton junior died in
1846 but all other children appear to survive to adulthood. The 1851 census entry refers to a daughter
named Charlotte but this appears to be an enumerator error as Charlotte was
actually Charles.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Treyton and Mary’s youngest
son was born posthumously after his father died on the 3</span>rd<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> May
1851 aged just 43 years. His will is straightforward and
leaves everything to his wife who moved to Hastings where she continued to
bring up their young family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Richard, according to the 1861
census, trained as a blacksmith and by 1861 was working just down the road from
his mother’s house. He married Mahalath
Dabney in 1860 when he was just 21 years old and she was only 18 years. A year later their daughter Mahalath Jane was
baptised in St Leonards church on the 7</span>th<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> April 1861.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Mahalath was to remain an only
child, Richard sadly died just a few years later at the age of only 25
years. By 1871 Mahalath was living with
her maternal grandparents, William and Sarah Dabney, in Hastings </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">–</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> her mother had probably
remarried but this cannot be confirmed at present. In about 1880 Mahalath met Constantine Maguire
who was working at a drapery shop in Hastings high street. They soon found themselves having to marry
and just a few weeks later their eldest son Horace was baptised. Horace was followed by May Frances in 1883
and after moving to Newhaven they also had Hubert Joseph in 1888.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like her father Richard, and
her grandfather Treyton, Mahalath died young.
She was only 28 years old when she died in Lewes. Constantine and their three children moved in
with his parents. Constantine never
remarried, by 1901 he was working in an iron foundry as a foreman in Lewes but
by 1911 he was a house painter in Eastbourne.
He may have died in 1924 in London.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Richard’s grandchildren were
slightly longer lived than their mother, grandfather and great grandfather. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Horace began working as a
footman in Kensington before setting up his own business as a newsagent in
Pimlico. He married Rosa Blatchford in
1912 and they had three children </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">–</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> Anthony (1914) and twins Mary and Winifred (1917). He died in 1963 at the age of about 73 years. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">His sister May never appears
to have married. She worked as a school nurse in Lewes for a while and died in
Somerset at the age of 83 years. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Their younger brother, Hubert,
began by following the same career path as Horace as the 1911 census shows him
working as a footman in Marylebone. He
married Jane Leachman in 1915 in Lincolnshire and they had two children Albert
(1918) and Alaric (1924). Hubert was the
first of the three siblings to die - he died in 1947 at the age of 58 years.</span></div>
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-90252526019237751992014-12-20T18:14:00.001+00:002014-12-20T20:19:19.382+00:00The oldest occupation<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our female ancestors did not have particularly easy lives, they were effectively second class citizens, answerable to their fathers and then their husbands, with little freedom to make their own way in life.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most women worked hard too. Unless they belonged to the upper class with lots of servants at their beck and call then they would be kept busy taking care of their children and home without the benefit of modern conveniences. Many women had employment too; in the towns many worked in millinery, teaching and in retail. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One occupation which gave women a bit of independence, although at a high price, was prostitution. As prostitutes women had more choice, they could to some extent choose when and where to work, they control over their income and a freedom from the social restrictions which governed other women. It was not always an employment option that the women wanted to take but often one they were left with little choice but to take.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-14607ff3-683e-1855-1a0c-29264628a9d4" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is not easy to identify prostitutes in the census but concentrating on the 1881 census I was able to identify a few with links to Sussex. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Margaret Robinson was resident in Ypres Castle Prison in Rye in 1881, she was 26 years old and had lived in Rye all her life. Her occupation was recorded as prostitute but this had been crossed out and replaced with ‘no occupation’. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fanny Smith was living in Derby Place in Brighton where she worked as a prostitute. She was born around 1848 in Sussex and is recorded as being married although there is no husband living with her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate Coombs and Frederica Grigson probably never knew each other but in 1881 their lives had brought them to a similar outcome. Both were born in Brighton in around 1862 and in 1881 both were in prison for prostitution, Kate in Dorchester and Frederica in Westminster.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two Sussex women were suffering the unpleasant consequences of their occupation; Ann Leggett was born in Petworth in about 1859 whilst Annie Petersfield was born in Brighton in about 1847 but by 1881 both were resident in lock hospitals. Lock hospitals were hospitals which specialised in venereal disease. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annie was in an Aldershot lock hospital whilst Ann was in one in Paddington.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sarah Pipman, born in Brighton in </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">around</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 1859, was living in London in 1881 where she lodged with the Painter family whilst she worked as a prostitute.</span></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most women did not want to be labelled as prostitutes in the census. Most of the women above were in circumstances which did not give them control over how they were presented in the census. Often women would record their occupation as anything but prostitute, seamstress is a common alternative occupation and in many cases the women may have had two jobs, working a regular job and earning a bit extra on the side.</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes it is possible to identify women who probably worked as prostitutes even though they are not listed as doing so in the census. Carrie Wood says she was born in Brighton in 1831 but by 1881 she is living in Mint Street in Southwark, an area noted by Charles Booth for its prostitutes. None of the women lodging along with Carrie are listed as prostitutes but of the 23 residents only one is a man and one is a child of 23 days. The ages of the women vary from 18 years to 64 years and their occupations vary from ironers to seamstresses to laundresses and a variety of other low income jobs. Carrie and another women are listed as ‘unfortunate’. The likelihood is that this is either a brothel or a lodging house where the majority of the residents earn their income from prostitution. It is also likely that few of them gave their real names as there are 2 Browns, 2 Smiths and 6 Jones within the group.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Interestingly, but not surprisingly, it is hard to locate these women in other censuses. Margaret Robinson and Ann Leggett can be located in earlier censuses but I have yet to find the other women in the earlier censuses and have found none of them in later censuses nor can I identify any obvious marriages or burials. </span></span></div>
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-69335885067499652372014-11-05T16:55:00.001+00:002014-11-05T16:55:36.709+00:00Miser of Mayfield<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">William Luck was buried in Mayfield in 1704 and as his burial record shows he was worth a bit more than expected - especially as he was getting handouts from the parish in order to get by:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">13 [Dec 1704] Willm Luck had Releife of
y<sup>e</sup> Parish Dyed with Eighty pounds by him</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">According to Measuring Worth (<a href="http://www.measuringworth.com/m/calculators/ukcompare/">www.measuringworth.com</a>) his £80 is equivalent of between £11,000 (based on standard of living value) to more than £1 million (based on economic value).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The discovery of that money must have had the parish officials gnashing their teeth! </span></div>
Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-67719077114331654622014-09-03T11:19:00.001+01:002014-09-03T11:19:43.989+01:00One thousands years of criminal justice<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday the Keep held one of its lunch time talks; this one was given by Christopher Wittick and was looking a thousand years of criminal justice in Sussex.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chris looked at the history of our justice system from trial by battle in the post Conquest period through to Henry II's Assize of Clarendon which saw the start of trial by jury and eventually the development of the Quarter Sessions and the Assizes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was only a short talk so there was little time to go into any detail but it was interesting for me to see that early on crime was seen as affecting only the person against whom the crime was committed (and his/her immediate family), it was only in the 12th century that people began to feel that crime affected all of society. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As always it is the gruesome details which stick in one's memory; hanging was always the more generally accepted method of execution but in the Cinque Ports, including Hastings, they had a far more locality based method - they threw people off the cliff! Also for a short period in the 16th century poisoners could be executed by boiling - apparently it was first used in 1531 after the Bishop of Rochester was served poisoned porridge!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was an excellent talk and I look forward to their next one. None appear to be scheduled at present but keep an eye on their <a href="http://www.thekeep.info/events/" target="_blank">events website</a>.</span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-67489805114856309962014-05-15T21:22:00.000+01:002014-05-15T21:22:01.184+01:00A woman's place<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have just signed the <a href="http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/mothers-names-should-be-on-marriage-certificates" target="_blank">petition</a> to have mothers names included on marriage certificates, something I feel very strongly about. In this day and age it is ludicrous that mothers are not included - not just to help the family historians of the future but far more importantly to recognise we are just as significant as our spouses - and in many cases it is the mothers who are primary carers in their children's lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having done that I was then reading the Sussex Advertiser from the 8th July 1851 and came across the following entry:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Distressing case:- At the termination of the magisterial proceedings, a poor</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">woman named Martin appealed to the Bench under the following </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">circumstances - She stated for months past she had been a martyr</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to the ill-treatment of her husband. She had been married for 15 years</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">had had several children and yet he not only refused to contribute</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to their support but would frequently beat her in the most unmerciful</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">manner; the last time had had done so having been on Friday week. Her</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">object was to preserve herself from his ruffianly attacks and she therefore</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sought the advice of the Bench. Mr Deane said that the proper course</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">would have been to have obtained a summons against the man after</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the assault on the day mentioned by the woman. So long a time had</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">now elapsed that the only suggestion he could make was that she had</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">better let him do it again (laughter).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unbelievable! Well, they were only 'ruffianly attacks', that doesn't sound too bad at all. At least once the Bench had stopped laughing and enjoying themselves they did agree to bring her husband in front of them to answer for his conduct.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I guess Mr Deane would not be in favour of mother's being given equal billing on the marriage licence!</span></div>
Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-38932393128464247612014-04-30T08:17:00.000+01:002014-04-30T08:17:29.138+01:00(Almost) Wordless Wednesday<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All Saints Church in Buncton has to be one of the prettiest churches I have visited and it is certainly one of the most photogenic. It also has one of the nicest approaches - there is a rather muddy path (there is no road access) down the side of a small valley, over the bridge and up the other side, with almost no sound except for the birds singing away in the trees , then around a corner you'll find the church in one of the counties most tranquil and peaceful locations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-1623963080285418282014-04-16T15:40:00.002+01:002014-04-16T15:40:54.088+01:00Wordless Wednesday - Pipewell Gate, Winchelsea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0GGHTJqLEzPlvgHHcYfNFRdqui4F6BfBN0HdRSReT4J9zDgthE1yIyeqFFRytoPqS_UVzjGqEAD5sryQjq8AAjKWoZAuKA_TyJbq7Pu1-gHXsue8sRXW3N7qJ3YgscBxbATpyYr-_iAW/s1600/Pipewill+Gate,+Winchelsea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0GGHTJqLEzPlvgHHcYfNFRdqui4F6BfBN0HdRSReT4J9zDgthE1yIyeqFFRytoPqS_UVzjGqEAD5sryQjq8AAjKWoZAuKA_TyJbq7Pu1-gHXsue8sRXW3N7qJ3YgscBxbATpyYr-_iAW/s1600/Pipewill+Gate,+Winchelsea.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Pipewell or Ferry Gate was built in the early 14th century along with three others to allow access into the new town of Winchelsea. The road from this gate led down to the ferry across the river Brede. The gate</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> was destroyed in 1380 during a French raid but rebuilt in around 1404. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-91290240106072363312014-03-30T13:25:00.003+01:002014-03-30T13:25:46.062+01:001939 National Register<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Researching our ancestors over the last 100 years can sometimes be much harder than researching them 200 years ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The last available census is the 1911, when the 1921 census is released in 2022 that will be it until the 1951 census is released in 2052 (by which time I will, no doubt, be with my ancestors!) as the Second World War saw the destruction of the 1931 census and prevented the taking of the 1941 census.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But now Findmypast is working with the National Archives to digitise and make available the 1939 Register which was taken towards the end of that year in preparation for the issuing of identity cards and ration books. It will be invaluable resource to help to fill in those 30 years between 1921 and 1951.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To learn more see <a href="http://blog.findmypast.co.uk/2014/new-project-to-release-the-1939-register-for-the-first-time-online/" target="_blank">Findmypast</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To be kept up to date on <a href="http://www.1939register.co.uk/" target="_blank">progress</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you don't want to wait two years you can, in some circumstances, apply for the information now from <a href="http://www.hscic.gov.uk/register-service" target="_blank">here</a></span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-1262993292648676412014-03-04T23:34:00.001+00:002014-03-04T23:34:21.663+00:00Mass Observation<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.sussex.ac.uk/library/speccoll/images/MO_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://www.sussex.ac.uk/library/speccoll/images/MO_Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> The Mass Observation collection is part of the archives at the Keep and it is very different type of record to those I am more familiar with as a genealogist.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mass Observation started because there were several events of national importance around 1936/7 such as the abdication of Edward VIII which were endlessly discussed by politicians and in the newspapers but the voice of the man in the street was unheard. The idea behind the Mass Observation was to find out what was happening with the everyday folk. It was to some extent a middle class study of the working class but the result is an amazing collection of records, diaries, images and documents that would not have survived if a small group of young men had not decided to undertake an anthropological study of 'ourselves'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.massobs.org.uk/images/content/britain_by_massobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.massobs.org.uk/images/content/britain_by_massobs.jpg" width="136" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mass Observation ended in the 1950's as its focus moved more towards consumer behaviour and away from social study but in the 1970s its collection of material came to Sussex University where it was made available to researchers. A lot of books have been published as a result of this information, and even a film - Housewife, 49 - which Victoria Wood wrote and starred in based on the diaries kept for the Mass Observation by Nella Last.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Interest in Mass Observation was revived in the 1981 and there is now a panel of nearly 500 people who are asked to write on a variety of topics. That the information is always provided anonymously is thought to encourage the panel to write truthfully and to give details that they might not normally admit to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.massobs.org.uk/images/content/12thMay2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="12th May 2014" border="0" height="148" src="http://www.massobs.org.uk/images/content/12thMay2014.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you would like to add to the archive you get the chance in a few months time - in 1937 everyone was invited to write a diary on the<a href="http://www.massobs.org.uk/12may.html" target="_blank"> 12th May</a> (which turned out to be the coronation of George VI) and this is being repeated this year - everyone who wants to can write a diary of their day from the moment they get up until they go to bed that night. Whilst it is unlikely to be as eventful a day as 12th May 1936 turned out to be, it is the very ordinariness which provides the insights into our daily life's which we can leave for our descendants to look at and be amazed. After all if it was not for the Mass Observation Project we wouldn't know that in 1943 liking your spouse was thought to be more important (61%) to loving them (21%) if you wanted a happy marriage or that real coffee (as opposed to instant) came into our lives in Christmas 1986.</span><br />
Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-75470409239039613112014-02-17T22:50:00.000+00:002014-02-17T22:50:26.061+00:00A little too large!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the librarian for the Sussex Family History Group I am currently sorting through a lots of boxes which haven't been opened for some time. The latest box included a transcript of a press cutting of the burial of William Agate in Horsham in 1827.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEAVd7SkMM8u-DpnQ_wQhYDFvXNFg0JHMrlSYWMMrP-iEkmFsVs-pQsnZX9YIy3uw3k8b4XxnY81raUAid9_NaCYlli7TKmDdnnqA0mBbks24VjX_RkmOF_AH6ph8U2B8f7rUa3Ueo4ry/s1600/London+Standard+19+July+1827+page+2+col+4_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEAVd7SkMM8u-DpnQ_wQhYDFvXNFg0JHMrlSYWMMrP-iEkmFsVs-pQsnZX9YIy3uw3k8b4XxnY81raUAid9_NaCYlli7TKmDdnnqA0mBbks24VjX_RkmOF_AH6ph8U2B8f7rUa3Ueo4ry/s1600/London+Standard+19+July+1827+page+2+col+4_001.jpg" height="383" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">According to this report, when William Agate died
he was <i>'very corpulent'</i><i> </i>and weighed 126 stone. Some internet
research suggests that 126 stone was probably an exaggeration as even in our obese world
people weighing 100+ stone are rare although o</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">besity is not a problem limited to our century, it existed in 18th centuries onwards amongst the wealthy and middle classes who had access to foods in excess.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">William was actually described as being 126 stone '<i>horsemans
weight'</i>. This does not mean William was the right weight to ride a horse
(if he did weigh 126 stone he would have been the same weight as a fairly large
horse!) instead it is to do with how the value of a stone was calculated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back in the Middle Ages there was no standardised
'stone' weight and each community would use a rock or stone of about the right
weight to measure out each sale but with the growth of international trade a
stone was fixed at a specific weight - but at a different weight depending on
the item. A stone of wool was 14lbs, whilst a stone of wax was 12lbs and
a stone of sugar weighed 8lbs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A horsemans weight meant that a stone weighed 14lbs
(as it does now) so according to the London Express of the 19th July 1827
William Agate weighed 126 stone or 1,764lbs (800kgs).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If his weight was exaggerated then
hopefully the size of his coffin was too as the article says it was 17ft by
13ft and 12ft deep. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The General Baptist church graveyard in Horsham is
not the biggest and a coffin this size would have required the most of the
graveyard to be dug up to make a hole big enough for it!!</span></div>
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-6872290588942025452014-02-05T13:40:00.001+00:002014-02-05T13:40:14.583+00:00The Keep<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As I was predisposed to like <a href="http://www.thekeep.info/" target="_blank">the Keep</a>, the new archive in East Sussex, this might not be the most unbiased review.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I have two roles within the Keep; one as a researcher whilst the other is as the librarian for the <a href="http://www.sfhg.org.uk/" target="_blank">Sussex Family History Society</a> (SFHG) who are a tenant partner of the Keep. The SFHG have a room at the Keep which houses our library and because of this I have spent a lot of time at the Keep, particularly before they opened. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I also do a lot of research at the <a href="http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/kent_history/kent_history__library_centre.aspx" target="_blank">Kent History and Library Centre</a>, the new Kent archive which opened two years ago so it is interesting to make a comparison between these two very different archives.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">To begin with, as you might have guessed, I do like the Keep, a lot. There is without doubt lots that can be done to improve it but many of the problems are inevitable with a new archive which is made up of three different repositories all now working as one (East Sussex record office, Brighton History Centre and the Special Collections of the Sussex University).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The Keep bears no relation to the previous home of the East Sussex record office (ESRO) at the Maltings. Previously researchers worked in cramped conditions in the attic at the Maltings whilst documents were stored in various locations around Sussex - none of them ideal for old and vulnerable documents. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Now all the records, and those of the Brighton History Centre (BHC) and Mass Observation collection are housed in National Archive standard conditions in the repository block. There is a reference room (into which you could fit the old ESRO research room in three or four times over) plus a similarly sized reading room. The reference room contains the library, the computers and the microfilm readers, whilst original documents can be viewed in the reading room. Staff have better facilities too, there is a digitization suite and a conservation suite (which slightly resembles a torture chamber with its presses and giant guillotine). There are three multifunction rooms which can be used as one single space, giving room for exhibitions, school visits, lectures and meeting rooms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Many of the problems with the Keep are in the process of being resolved. An initial problem was that the new document order system asked you to reserve your original documents for either a morning or afternoon session. If you ordered it for the morning but got side tracked with other research you would find the document had been returned to the depository by the time you went to view it. A temporary fix allowed you to order documents for both sessions but now the system has been amended so researchers just select the day they want to view a document. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Staff are another issue. Staff from both ESRO and BHC are working together, both have different specialities and training. There is also a lot of new equipment and it does appear that there has been little training on how to use it. There is also a lack of staff, I'm not sure if it is because staff have left or because more staff are needed but there is a high percentage of temporary staff who seem to have little or no expertise in family history or local studies research but they have been put in charge of helping in the reference room. Again, this appears to be addressed as the temporary staff do appear to have been relocated to the reception desk and other areas where less expertise is needed and a longer term solution is underway as jobs are now being advertised to increase the number of staff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">As much as I like the Keep, I dislike the </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Kent History and Library Centre (KLHC). The Keep is a quiet environment with plenty of space, the KHLC is a library, unless you need to view original documents you share the space with children attending rhyme time, youths checking on their Facebook page and pensioners collecting their large print books - nothing wrong with any of that, but not an ideal environment for historical research.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I spend a lot of time looking at parish registers most of which are stored on microfilm, at both archives. At KHLC they have a few of the old style microfilm readers and some new modern ones which are connected to a computer so that the image is displayed on the screen giving a far better image than the older microfilm readers. The problem with these new machines is they are clunky, clumsy and virtually unusable. Staff don't know how to use the machines so you are to a large extent on your own with them. Another issue is that although you can enlarge the microfilm on the screen you can only print out the original page as an A4 document - no enlargement. Having had experience and not been impressed by the machines at KHLC I approached the new ones at the Keep with trepidation, they are also connected to the computer and its fair to say the staff aren't expert with them but unlike the ones in Kent these are a joy to use! They do require some computer savvy to use as you'd expect but once you get the hang of it and the touchscreen controls you have a good quality image which can be printed <i>or </i>saved to a usb drive. If you don't like using the microfilm readers then the Keep has another benefit - digital images of all the microfilmed parish registers. One day these will be available on all the computers but at present they are limited to two standalone pc's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The role of the Sussex Family History Group is varied. We are there to provide a service for our members with our library (accessed from the reference room) and computer resources - it is important to remember that the SFHG covers all of Sussex, both West and East Sussex, so although we are based in the Keep we have a lot by way of West Sussex resources. We also provide a service for non members although non members who visit more than once are gently encouraged to join us. (Given that membership is just £11 a year which gives access to a fantastic baptism & burial index and much more it is a bargain!) At the Keep we are also there to help the researchers in the Keep with their research, after all not everyone knows what they are doing, how to find what they need - at present we have volunteers there most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as some Saturdays - if Brighton aren't playing at home (the Keep is just down the road from the new Brighton stadium). The SFHG have been made to feel very welcome by the staff and we hope we add some value to those visiting the Keep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Sadly the Keep does not have any late night opening but it does now open every Saturday and there is no longer any need to book in advance - there are seats in abundance. Several people have commented that the Keep looks like a prison building, but whilst I am not a fan of modern architecture I find the building quite striking. Internally there is a lot of space, a lot of white walls mixed in with some images. I'll finish with a final contrast with the Kent archive - without doubt my most disliked feature of the KHLC are the communal toilets (really Kent, what were you thinking - in a library!!), but the Keep has nice, modern toilets with a separate ladies and gents & snazzy hand dryers, what more could you want!!</span><br />
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-56248175336254682162013-11-19T18:16:00.000+00:002013-11-19T18:16:08.272+00:00The Keep is open!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Keep opened today, the partnership between East Sussex Record Office, the Brighton History Centre and the Mass Observation Project is finally up and running.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was there today with the Sussex Family History Group and everything seemed to run smoothly and without too much chaos (at least on the surface!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LPNkgskDFaV8RaDR-OZi1r9oA3lnalANG-pm52R87x6JiVyypedxOuLi-nCSbm6Pomj4hvJNhHZG7tPkWOiq5ckUBEezbP_AcJU5IGD_zGV_k23XwdbxPliKCHsm9lkkt9JZ6ru9AZ2n/s1600/2013-11-19+14.36.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LPNkgskDFaV8RaDR-OZi1r9oA3lnalANG-pm52R87x6JiVyypedxOuLi-nCSbm6Pomj4hvJNhHZG7tPkWOiq5ckUBEezbP_AcJU5IGD_zGV_k23XwdbxPliKCHsm9lkkt9JZ6ru9AZ2n/s400/2013-11-19+14.36.41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The image above is from the reference room - a huge difference from the old record office - and that is just one of the rooms, there is a second one through the glass doors at the far end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tomorrow I am back there but this time as a researcher. Look for my review tomorrow.</span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-50687518686348505512013-10-28T10:30:00.000+00:002013-10-28T10:30:41.631+00:00Getting ready for the Queen's visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w33u4oUvRviS-dLT7tH1_UahaEKH5yx18NrnhITchK9p8CHxGGUg_YgWP3lBagYWkgmr7cYoREus8uwRb9q5qqIGgIFsQ8BVIYw6S_ldvsZ6tJW8vQ_77QBGZdt4Kvtk_gKU6OWFv9mt/s1600/IMG_2849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w33u4oUvRviS-dLT7tH1_UahaEKH5yx18NrnhITchK9p8CHxGGUg_YgWP3lBagYWkgmr7cYoREus8uwRb9q5qqIGgIFsQ8BVIYw6S_ldvsZ6tJW8vQ_77QBGZdt4Kvtk_gKU6OWFv9mt/s1600/IMG_2849.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTJqwdcV3Sy4e4S8cAVMhBfA2mltu4NA3UMb-Shmrh-NqDfCcrT3p-A_lXZxk9qnto2IlYuQaX_4Np-hEiDZVAurKOaW9ironDqtvNPha34wVVm0WYXOluS0-vfKaXS64qFnl52VBNU3I/s1600/IMG_2850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTJqwdcV3Sy4e4S8cAVMhBfA2mltu4NA3UMb-Shmrh-NqDfCcrT3p-A_lXZxk9qnto2IlYuQaX_4Np-hEiDZVAurKOaW9ironDqtvNPha34wVVm0WYXOluS0-vfKaXS64qFnl52VBNU3I/s1600/IMG_2850.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over the past month the <a href="http://www.sfhg.org.uk/" target="_blank">Sussex Family History Group</a> library have been busy moving from their home at St Michaels church hall in Lewes where they have been based for the last 21 years to their new home at the Keep. Last Saturday, a lot of work saw the room finally look a big more presentable (thank goodness for cupboards!) and a bit closer to being ready for the visit from the Queen as she comes to open the Keep later this week. The building itself is looking very smart with the addition of its name on the front. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Keep opens to the public on the 19th November.</span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-68701670923275627612013-09-27T16:15:00.000+01:002013-09-27T16:15:01.506+01:00Nonconformity in Sussex: The Society of Dependants<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Society
of <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Dependants</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">also known
as the Cokelers</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was a Protestant
dissenting sect set up by John Sirgood in Loxwood, West Sussex in the mid 19<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> century. John Sirgood, born in Averring,
Gloucestershire in about 1821, moved to London where he became a fundamentalist
preacher initially with another sect - the Peculiar People - in Southwark. He was against the Anglican church and disliked
the inequalities within society, views which made him very unpopular with landowners
and the clergy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sirgood
began preaching at Loxwood, Sussex which had the benefit of being an area
outside the control of the large estates. Local landowners could not have
him removed, although attempts were made to limit his impact but the end of the
Conventicle Act gave Sirgood the freedom he needed. Meetings were held initially in barns and
outbuildings in and around Loxwood but Sirgood soon built up a substantial following amongst the
farm workers of the area.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Eventually
the Society of </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Dependants</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> was formed, the name was chosen because the members
considered themselves dependent on God for everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They
believed in free will to achieve salvation and they preferred celibacy,
although marriage was not forbidden, but it was believed that a relationship with a husband or wife was a barrier to their own relationship
with God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Members were
pacifists and became conscientious objectors during both world wars. Some
sources say they also disapproved of any form of pleasure, they were teetotal,
didn't take part in dancing, didn't listen to any music that was not religious and
even banned flowers or ornaments in their homes although other sources suggest they
were not so extreme.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Probably as
a result of the poverty among their members, persecution (many memb</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">ers lost
their jobs, whilst others became unpopular amongst neighbours & friends) and their preference for regular
joint worship, the Society of Dependants set up shops which were run by members
who also lived on site. They flourished in places such as Loxwood, Warnham,
Northchapel, Lords Hill (in Surrey) and South Norwood (near Croydon), soon they also
set up and ran farms on a communal basis, the produce of which was sold through
the shops.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Society
had about 2,000 members when John Sirgood died in 1885 and there were seven
chapels but the numbers soon fell off and by the early 20<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> century
had halved and by the 1980s only about 30 members remained. The last surviving chapel in Northchapel is
now a private house and so far as I can tell the Society of Dependants is no longer operating.</span></span></div>
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-53720568898726351292013-09-20T23:51:00.000+01:002013-09-20T23:51:45.415+01:00Where's my father?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR9ZmJxyRM53Jc4ITty3haL5m_lZfVfdHrinrz0s4NNSmV8iLiK4zaICh6K4uRvJ4Fnr5EuLpvdtj1rxb-qWXqvnOClopV7RFvHvTSw1K-qVqcjl3v13lfNAT2feSNsQ8MRYHCJrQbtSa/s1600/Times+newspaper+Jul+26+1906+-+headline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR9ZmJxyRM53Jc4ITty3haL5m_lZfVfdHrinrz0s4NNSmV8iLiK4zaICh6K4uRvJ4Fnr5EuLpvdtj1rxb-qWXqvnOClopV7RFvHvTSw1K-qVqcjl3v13lfNAT2feSNsQ8MRYHCJrQbtSa/s1600/Times+newspaper+Jul+26+1906+-+headline.jpg" height="62" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the
Victorian era it became popular for groups to take annual outings to the
seaside. On the 12<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> July
1906 it was the turn of the tradesman of Orpington and St Marys Cray to take an
outing to Brighton. For the first time they decided not to travel by train but
to hire a double decker bus with an open top.
It was to prove to be a fatal decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The journey
began well but it was soon clear there were mechanical problems, the driver had to stop on several occasions to wield his spanner. Locals in Horley, Surrey reported seeing the
omnibus make its way through the town noticeably top heavy (with many of the passengers taking
advantage of the open top, many of them standing).
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the bus
approached Handcross Hill they were travelling about 12 miles an hour (the national speed limit was 14 miles an hour) but they picked up speed as they began down the hill getting up to an estimated 30 or 40 miles. The bus wasn't designed to cope with the speed and by the time the driver tried to use the brakes it was too late, they failed with a loud bang leaving a </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">variety of mechanical parts lying in the road behind them. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The badly shaken driver tried the handbrake
without effect so he threw the gears into reverse, the only option left to him.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There was a further
bang as many of the remaining mechanical parts fell out and the driver lost all all control
of the bus. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The driver,
Henry Blake, tried to keep the bus on the road but it hit a large oak tree, a branch of which tore off the top half of the bus, the rest of the bus continued until it came to rest hanging off the side of the hill.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDZ2zCDHZtYDY5octp9P7FmBzQVxYgWMSi1nIJqYTFB0hp_O0Fjv47S19reoFM-XmQaYJaOoTC-UNnjfBZgU_j3QP6Ko5NgvQ9kwFxYE0PDtRb9jJLyChSQPDcDRlwOxD0z24LPddCwdg/s1600/red+lion+pub+handcross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDZ2zCDHZtYDY5octp9P7FmBzQVxYgWMSi1nIJqYTFB0hp_O0Fjv47S19reoFM-XmQaYJaOoTC-UNnjfBZgU_j3QP6Ko5NgvQ9kwFxYE0PDtRb9jJLyChSQPDcDRlwOxD0z24LPddCwdg/s1600/red+lion+pub+handcross.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Red Lion, Handcross</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The Red Lion in Handcross multi-functioned over the next few days; it became a temporary hospital for the injured, it became a morgue for the dead and it provided a room for the inquest which began just two days later. The tenth and final victim dying in a room next door just as the inquest began.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The inquest
eventually decided on a verdict of accidental death "caused by the
breakage of the machinery brought on by the efforts of the driver the check the
speed of the omnibus when he found that
it was going to fast". There was
some concern that the driver had had two beers during the journey and that the
bus company were in the habit of encouraging speed down the hills to give
momentum on the other side but it was decided no one was criminally responsible however they recommended that this type of omnibus was not suitable for country roads.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The ten men who died were <b>Thomas Francis</b>, a 49 year old master baker, who died of a fractured skull. He was an Orpington man born and bred who left a wife Sarah Jemima (nee Brice) and seven children aged between 29 years and 8 years. Sarah continued the bakery shop with the help of her older children.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1zKUrYLo5Cg4Aj5UK3JUBl-tNqPgndyNygctBjMd-LiPlMzIhJKlrcSmDYFZPDePhYldFOIosUAqR4FZFMFZvNIeB30oZ6S5iboO68AAqq7bKV3GsZMg2aHauEZ_2d9TGuMbFFVD8dbF/s1600/freebmd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1zKUrYLo5Cg4Aj5UK3JUBl-tNqPgndyNygctBjMd-LiPlMzIhJKlrcSmDYFZPDePhYldFOIosUAqR4FZFMFZvNIeB30oZ6S5iboO68AAqq7bKV3GsZMg2aHauEZ_2d9TGuMbFFVD8dbF/s1600/freebmd.jpg" height="180" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">9 of the 10 victims<br />(the 10th is on the previous page)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Edward Packham</b>, a basket maker, died from shock and a fractured skull aged 39 years leaving his wife Lavinia (nee Trist) to bring up their two young daughters Lilian and Ivy. His wife supported her family by working as a library caretaker, a job which came with accommodation Lavinia remarried in 1915 and died in 1967 at the age of 96 years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The Epsom family </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">of St Mary Cray </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">had not had an easy time even before the accident; </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Solomon Epsom</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">, a grocer, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">and his wife Catherine (nee Regan) had married in 1878 and had four children but their youngest daughter died in 1894 aged 9, their son in 1900 aged 16, Catherine died in 1902 and then their two surviving children lost their remaining parent when Solomon died as a result of a broken back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>Herbert Baker</b> was a clothier in St Mary Cray where he lived with his wife Alice Maud (nee Tier) and their young family, their youngest child was born just weeks before Herbert was killed. The impact tore his leg off and it landed in the oak tree where it alarmed rescuers. He survived the initial impact but he died shortly afterwards at the Red Lion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">32 year old <b>John French</b> who ran the Anglesea Arms in Orpington, left a wife Ellen (nee Driscoll) and a young son Jack. Ellen remarried in 1911 - to John's younger brother William, landlord of the Castle Hotel in Tonbridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Alice, wife of <b>William Vann</b>, was pregnant at the time of the accident and it was feared that the shock and anxiety would cause her to lose the baby but Laurence was born a few months after his father died. William had been a draper and ran a busy business in St Mary Cray which his wife continued after his death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The youngest to die was <b>Henry Burch</b> who was just 26 years old. He died instantly when he was thrown from the top level into the tree where his body was caught in the branches and was left hanging. His body had to be identified by his father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Ironically one of the dead was the undertaker, <b>Henry Hutchings</b> who was 42 years old and travelling with his 13 year old son William. The first to the scene of the accident found William wandering around calling for his father. Both of them had been travelling on the top of the bus but William had jumped out prior to the crash and was almost unhurt but later recounted how his father had remained sitting upright in his seat as the bus hurtled towards the oak tree. Following his death his wife Bertha (nee Meade) worked as an elementary school teacher in St Mary Cray. She never remarried.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>William Bailey</b> was the last to die. The 54 year old school master survived the crash and was taken to the Red Lion with a compound fracture of his right leg and fractured ribs which had punctured his lungs. He was kept alive with oxygen but died two days later just after the inquest into the accident began.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It was also reported in a few newspapers that the conductor <b>Frank Ewans</b> had also died in the accident. He had been badly injured leading to his transfer to Brighton hospital for trepanning to relieve the swelling of his brain. He did however survive and continued to work as a bus conductor until he died in 1931 aged 66 years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">For contemporary photos see the <a href="http://www.gravelroots.net/history/251.html" target="_blank">Gravelroots website</a>.</span></span></div>
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-7239684931344634252013-09-17T13:29:00.000+01:002013-09-17T13:29:18.279+01:00Soldier's wills online<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With the
anniversary of the start of the First World War next year there is a lot of
work going on to make records from that period more accessible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">"<a href="https://www.gov.uk/probate-search" target="_blank">Find a soldier's will</a>" is a new service from the government which aims to make it
possible to search for and download a soldier's will </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">on-line</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. Coverage is for serving soldiers who died between
1850 and 1986 and who left a will at the time of their death. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAs0AESabVnKRodWHHklMEXA2-Who8H5GVAa34SUUBE6dN5-UQHko3MOL93g18ik_dbPq6gnQOMnn3DSxXEB9-LY3h4nnBm8oBc0vBYp4DqlJksiKxX1tg8vRIqsmcHL5Pcy7ztuvcHC4/s1600/find+a+soldiers+will.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAs0AESabVnKRodWHHklMEXA2-Who8H5GVAa34SUUBE6dN5-UQHko3MOL93g18ik_dbPq6gnQOMnn3DSxXEB9-LY3h4nnBm8oBc0vBYp4DqlJksiKxX1tg8vRIqsmcHL5Pcy7ztuvcHC4/s1600/find+a+soldiers+will.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It seems possible (hopefully) that the service will expand
in the future to include all wills.</span></span><span style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To search
you need the soldiers surname and the year he died - if you don't know when he
died you can search each year (and there is a handy link to search the previous
or following year so you don't have to keep entering the year). If you have more information you can search
using the service number and forename to narrow down your search.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each will
costs £6 to download and it takes time - up to 10 days before it will be
available. I suspect, as it is early
days, the wills are being uploaded as they are requested and not in advance. Hopefully in the future they will be
available immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As the
website says this is the beta version so it will no doubt change but hopefully
not much as it is a nice clear, uncluttered site, easy to use and to
understand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">lthough I know of several members of the family who died in both World Wars there are no entries for them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> It is not clear if this i</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">s this because they didn't leave wills or because they have yet to be added to the index</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">All told this is a great addition to First World War information online.</span></div>
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-67522513375156728332013-08-24T23:19:00.001+01:002013-08-24T23:19:56.315+01:00Unfortunate surnames<a href="http://www.ehow.co.uk/slideshow_12239492_unfortunate-surnames.html#pg=1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">eHow</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> published a list of the most unfortunate surnames which set
me to thinking who were the most unfortunately named people in Sussex.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Mary Horney was baptised in 1662 in Broadwater, the daughter
of William and Elizabeth Horney whilst </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Icklesham was the burial place for an Abraham Cundick in 1759.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmoCJUpLaeTaZY2vrQrVVsj05qaqssf9xLIi4O9bZPlQ6VTe7Pw8PFDqYgtWMSvxqM5HlVi86_W2HRlW-0yAZWwyq3IYAdqjZ2uAmjGTarzmihLWUbPtd2Db3k3CgfIOx-MY3IhYyiIqT/s1600/dreamstimefree_67070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmoCJUpLaeTaZY2vrQrVVsj05qaqssf9xLIi4O9bZPlQ6VTe7Pw8PFDqYgtWMSvxqM5HlVi86_W2HRlW-0yAZWwyq3IYAdqjZ2uAmjGTarzmihLWUbPtd2Db3k3CgfIOx-MY3IhYyiIqT/s1600/dreamstimefree_67070.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are a fair number of Pricketts in Sussex including Effie
Beech Prickett, daughter of Theophilus Prickett, who was baptised in 1888 in
Wartling. She was probably quite glad to marry Robert Widdicombe in 1912.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wonder if Mary Ann Spearshott ever regretted her marriage in
1840 to William Titt. The family later emigrated to America where their
grandson Charles took the step of changing his surname to Tea. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The parish of Findon must have been relieved when a slut was saved
by a priest when in 1623 Frances Slutt
married Richard Preist.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCdH4mdj9eT-Fve6SOeQovxwizRsNSpKT7pqpLLwwtHYfQhyphenhyphenAccmzMqlesRPEgo03x6-iCPX4hM_j2YhGr93cSkj9DyysNfR2lIaDGxFuXpSt34UqMwub0zH6DXBVZ8GiFfb4BEztugo9/s1600/dreamstimefree_72737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCdH4mdj9eT-Fve6SOeQovxwizRsNSpKT7pqpLLwwtHYfQhyphenhyphenAccmzMqlesRPEgo03x6-iCPX4hM_j2YhGr93cSkj9DyysNfR2lIaDGxFuXpSt34UqMwub0zH6DXBVZ8GiFfb4BEztugo9/s1600/dreamstimefree_72737.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Of eHow's list of less than fortunate surnames I can find some examples in Sussex; there was Benjamin Bottom whose son John was baptised in Frant in 1848, then there was Dick Balls born in 1815 in Hastings whilst the excellently named Kingsley Bryce Speakerman Smellie was baptised in Eastbourne in 1898. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have not been able to find any Cockermouth's in Sussex but there was an Ann Cock baptised in Chichester in 1742 and an Elizabeth Cocklet baptised in Kirdford in 1592. David and Jane Boggs daughter Mary was baptised in 1825 in Midhurst and there are quite a few members of the Willy family from Stephen Willy baptised in 1613 in Hooe to Joseph Willy baptised in Eastbourne in 1892.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There were the Sick sisters from Middlesex who attended school in Hove in 1871 and there was Robert Nipple and his wife who were in Brighton workhouse when their son Henry was baptised in 1855. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally my favourite name so far that of </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gamaliel Glasscock who was buried in Willingdon in 1629. Not only does he have one of eHow's unfortunate surnames but he was given the forename of a 1<span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> century expert in Jewish Law!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What is your favourite unfortunate surname?</span></div>
Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-79380507049049303682013-08-03T21:29:00.000+01:002013-08-03T21:29:13.550+01:00Who do you think you are?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WDYTYA? this week featured Nigel Havers and his Hamblion ancestors in Colchester, Essex. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No Sussex connection but I was intrigued to know what happened to Jeremiah Hamblion. </span><br />
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For those who didn't watch the programme Jeremiah was the younger brother of Henry Hamblion, Nigel Havers 3 x great grandfather and from the sounds of it not the most pleasant person. Henry and Jeremiah were running a hackney cab business which was proving very successful and they were able to expand, purchasing some rather smart carriages for their customers. But WDYTYA found two stories about Jeremiah in local papers; in one he had objected to his own cab being overtaken and whooped at the overtaking horse as it went by, causing it to bolt, whilst in the second he deliberately drove his carriage too close to a market stall injuring the pregnant woman manning it. Possibly because of Jeremiah's behaviour, Henry and Jeremiah ended their business partnership in 1850. Having gone it alone Henry moved into the inn keeping business but due to various misfortunes he later became bankrupt and died aged 56 in 1871. His younger brother was not mentioned again on the programme.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found that Jeremiah also went into the inn keeping business, running the Bull Inn and from 1856 the Angel Hotel in the Colchester High Street where he described himself as an <i>importer of wines and spirits</i>. </span><br />
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He had further run-ins with the law including one in 1854 when he brought an action against a policeman whom he claimed had been drunk and falsely accused him of committing a nuisance in the street. The case was dismissed as it was felt that Jeremiah was getting revenge on the policeman who'd given evidence against him in a previous case. To be fair to Jeremiah many of his appearances in court were the result of him chasing those who owned him money such as a case in 1857 when he took a Lieutenant Bridges to court for failure to pay £1.15s for the hire of a horse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although Henry and Jeremiah had ended their business partnership it seems likely they remained on good terms with each other. They were in the same industry and in 1854 Henry and his wife Elizabeth named their new son after his uncle Jeremiah. Jeremiah and his wife Mary do not appear to have had any children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many of Jeremiah's problems may have been the result of alcoholism because on the 19th May 1859 Jeremiah died of delirium </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">tremens; he had become dependent on alcohol and his body could not cope with a sudden withdrawal.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> He was only 42 years old,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">According to the probate index Jeremiah left an estate valued at under £1,000. This was a good inheritance for his wife; the website </span><a href="http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/relativevalue.php" style="line-height: 115%;" target="_blank">Measuring Worth</a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> shows that it was worth up to £82,000 (based on the increase in inflation) or nearly £2,000,000 based on the differing economic power of the £1,000. However Mary does not appear to have been left very well off. In 1861 she was running a tobacconist </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">business</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> in Colchester but by 1871 she was a servant, working as a domestic cook at a farm in Tendring. She died in 1892 aged about 80 years.</span></span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-6991001262445793932013-07-24T15:29:00.001+01:002013-07-24T15:29:34.328+01:00Improved coverage of Sussex on FamilySearch<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNHjqSjwRBoCWfgltwSgU6K6osBWiC9Xs-DLrtbZmESmKBx3r8t1NSImTLNE7AgoGVorx4ijr3C2saa8VWwJZlYIjoahcCAlKDaKNIPyAwXviqeCDsXwQrWbKoSvRIy6_3ChVgKm0k6fP/s1600/Family+Search+Sussex+parish+registers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNHjqSjwRBoCWfgltwSgU6K6osBWiC9Xs-DLrtbZmESmKBx3r8t1NSImTLNE7AgoGVorx4ijr3C2saa8VWwJZlYIjoahcCAlKDaKNIPyAwXviqeCDsXwQrWbKoSvRIy6_3ChVgKm0k6fP/s1600/Family+Search+Sussex+parish+registers.jpg" height="145" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FamilySearch have improved their coverage of Sussex parish registers with the addition of over 400,000 baptism, marriage and burial records taken from parish registers. These are index entries only with no access to the original image.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A list of the parishes covered can be found <a href="https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England,_Sussex,_Parish_Registers_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)#Coverage_Table" target="_blank">here</a> and it looks as if more will be added at some time in the future (but no indication when).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did a quick comparison with the Sussex Family History Group (SFHG) database with a search for my own surname and, although results cannot be directly compared because of the differences and <span style="line-height: 115%;">idiosyncrasies</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">between the databases, I found only 78 results on the FamilySearch database (48 if limited to exact spelling) but got results in 121 categories on the SFHG database which includes 125 events in Horsham alone (94 if limited to exact spelling). If you are a member of the SFHG you will get much better results from their database but you may find the FamilySearch database a much friendlier interface.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I searched the FamilySearch S</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ussex database</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> for several known events (within the parishes and time periods listed as covered) without finding them - expanding the search to All Collections found the baptisms as part of other databases but there was no sign of the burial records. It suggests that the Sussex database on FamilySearch does not have complete coverage of events within the parishes & periods they claim. Hopefully this will improve soon.</span><br />
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<br />Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-39530771369088317532013-07-07T19:49:00.000+01:002013-07-07T20:22:56.913+01:00Bastards of Uckfield<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bastardy was a problem for every parish, partly from a moral viewpoint but largely for financial reasons. Mothers without a husband to support them and their child were likely to rely on the parish for assistance so if the parish could they would pass unmarried pregnant single women on to another parish or encourage the father of their child to marry them. There were various established procedures for handling the problem of illegitimacy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A study of baptisms in Uckfield between 1700 and 1850 finds nearly 3,000 baptisms of which only 201 were for illegitimate children - just 7%. Of those 201 the priest has recorded the fathers name in 54 cases and a further 13 children are given a middle name which is probably their fathers name so for these children it might be possible to identify their fathers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The number of illegitimate births is not evenly spread over the 150 years, there was just one illegitimate child baptised in the first decade of the 18th century and none in the second but this figure rose over the years with nearly 40% of the illegitimate births occurring between 1840 and 1850. This doesn't mean that illegitimacy was on the increase, as the graph below shows the birth rate was also increasing sharply.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSPn0WJlVBOUrliTUXxXM6zAeg9_lHbNhsZcd5mZM9oX-n7QRrGAALyrSsV9UU359KmLph0qNoo2ZMkcfEo1CrcTERQSlkcu69AcpHn4VGOJSvPxgGMG68aNpfTt1AqWzkjNsgJdqZSKC/s1600/graph+showing+leg+&+illeg+baptisms+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSPn0WJlVBOUrliTUXxXM6zAeg9_lHbNhsZcd5mZM9oX-n7QRrGAALyrSsV9UU359KmLph0qNoo2ZMkcfEo1CrcTERQSlkcu69AcpHn4VGOJSvPxgGMG68aNpfTt1AqWzkjNsgJdqZSKC/s1600/graph+showing+leg+&+illeg+baptisms+.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Where paperwork has survived there can be more information about the parents and the illegitimate child. In the case of Mary Smith two examination documents survive, one taken when she was pregnant and the other after the birth of her child. From these and other sources it is possible to determine what happened to Mary and her daughter baptised in 1767.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the age of 17 years Mary Smith
was meeting the appropriately named John Brown for assignations in Shermanreed
Wood near Uckfield; not surprisingly she soon found
herself pregnant and deserted. Nothing
is mentioned of what happened to John Brown but by the 9<span style="font-size: x-small;">th </span>February
1767 (the date of the second examination) he was a huckster 'late of the parish of Uckfield'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is possible that his name wasn't John Brown as when his daughter was baptised on the 25th January 1767 at Holy Cross in Uckfield she was named Mary Barham Smith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mary Smith (senior) had been baptised on the 21</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">st</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> May 1749 in Uckfield, the fourth child born to Richard Smith and Sarah (nee
Marten).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She went on to marry John Weaver in 1769
when Mary was a few years old and they had two children, Lucy baptised in 1769
(five months after their marriage) and John baptised in 1770, both in nearby Isfield. Mary died in 1789 and her husband John in 1821, both are buried in Isfield.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mary's daughter Mary Barham went
on to have an illegitimate child herself, William Barham Smith, who was baptised
in Uckfield on the 28</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">th</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> October 1787 before she married John
Funnel just over a year later, on the 1</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">st </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">December
1788.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It appears that John and Mary had
a large family baptised in the parishes of Maresfield and Fletching.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-29461935481637458692013-06-13T19:42:00.000+01:002013-06-13T19:42:53.225+01:00The Keep<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just a few weeks ago the East Sussex record office closed the doors of its home at the Maltings in Lewes and we have to wait until at least November for the new archive to open at the Keep near Falmer. I was lucky enough to have a look around the new archive today and below are a few photos of what is to come.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU93OkTwHbjo-CF0sjG0bd5nMk9qvzBRNbr_PJtNuzWuqs33ZJcD2lf7uobsIaawI3LcLmn-ziHa2254hFG4AB6cnzI3pzlmD0RO9_Un7CZ52cs0U6hyW-6UKk4lzlp-HBvvkvfX03QHUo/s1600/carpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU93OkTwHbjo-CF0sjG0bd5nMk9qvzBRNbr_PJtNuzWuqs33ZJcD2lf7uobsIaawI3LcLmn-ziHa2254hFG4AB6cnzI3pzlmD0RO9_Un7CZ52cs0U6hyW-6UKk4lzlp-HBvvkvfX03QHUo/s320/carpark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is car parking for about 40 cars (visitors will have to pay to park), there are good links to the bus services (bus stops to the far left of the photo) and Falmer station (there is a footpath from the archive to Falmer station)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The front entrance is very functional but I believe there is some more work to be done here. The large white space (which is largely hidden behind the sapling) is designed as a large projection screen although this will only be in use on special occasions.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfkA99LnGXJgOtJFL97hvuaHdc5jTLjiM2WXxblA6IT_9fmkFT6zaUbGbyF3cL5Ska2mLGL3co3vLxfsDgciDAfghYSN4l5wIZA_SP1RHPgo4K8PbxkdZL95Djmj1Ds3LoCDuZkI_rHGz/s1600/reception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfkA99LnGXJgOtJFL97hvuaHdc5jTLjiM2WXxblA6IT_9fmkFT6zaUbGbyF3cL5Ska2mLGL3co3vLxfsDgciDAfghYSN4l5wIZA_SP1RHPgo4K8PbxkdZL95Djmj1Ds3LoCDuZkI_rHGz/s320/reception.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reception desk. Where you will be able to apply for your new East Sussex record office users card (no Carn tickets here!). The first searchroom can be accessed without a users card but you will need one to get access to original documents.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXu3rm6uY3uwVwi9b2W3CV_mHfa2jwNkD87MC2yEYgVWMqMxmHFaY-XcVMVDDgA6s0tj9ev8HpoqSvmz9xHXNc4qX21MW7mlPQ7csGPA5bSPbY2U0G4dS7VyXPkQNpZvU9RPXQRx8cu0n/s1600/locker+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXu3rm6uY3uwVwi9b2W3CV_mHfa2jwNkD87MC2yEYgVWMqMxmHFaY-XcVMVDDgA6s0tj9ev8HpoqSvmz9xHXNc4qX21MW7mlPQ7csGPA5bSPbY2U0G4dS7VyXPkQNpZvU9RPXQRx8cu0n/s320/locker+area.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lockers and somewhere to hang your coats. There are also toilets here - and for anyone who has used the new Kent History and Library Centre you'll be pleased to hear there is a ladies and a gents!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A communal area where you can eat your sandwiches and buy hot drinks from vending machines (not yet in place). To the left of this space are the meeting rooms where events and displays will happen whilst to the right are the search rooms.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoNwCFeC6XmpuJv4claKmfEj7gnNCJrGFfdUFZnNZ9mTW1aNC1-WVswCNfqhKW9F9tS1VAS1-C3qvqgs97P6XoN7I1shNN9iMHcI3o_EU8DoITpAKLRIQvm2-FH6h-nt9WtDaOLKiCIYY/s1600/searchroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoNwCFeC6XmpuJv4claKmfEj7gnNCJrGFfdUFZnNZ9mTW1aNC1-WVswCNfqhKW9F9tS1VAS1-C3qvqgs97P6XoN7I1shNN9iMHcI3o_EU8DoITpAKLRIQvm2-FH6h-nt9WtDaOLKiCIYY/s320/searchroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first search room, accessible to everyone with open access books, computers for digitised materials (which includes much of the parish registers).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To the right of this room is the new library of the Sussex Family History Group. When it is staffed we will be offering help and advice to researchers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The secure searchroom. To get here you'll need the East Sussex record office card and you'll be able to view original documents, photographs, maps and so on - and there is so much space!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduWRNwCys8h14_2Y5wZjSHe1fIanApw3HUuH8_sIeaYJjS5KVE57l25Mz7O5YNWXVTF32plQIkISpvKBnoyQRKoNuEXU0Rs8sQxaxO5jcZexfyATBxKDe0HXb-IwZAkXcpkJW7D2W4BGL/s1600/sixmiles+of+storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduWRNwCys8h14_2Y5wZjSHe1fIanApw3HUuH8_sIeaYJjS5KVE57l25Mz7O5YNWXVTF32plQIkISpvKBnoyQRKoNuEXU0Rs8sQxaxO5jcZexfyATBxKDe0HXb-IwZAkXcpkJW7D2W4BGL/s320/sixmiles+of+storage.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A section the users will not get to see - part of the 6 miles of shelving storing all that material in an ideal temperature controlled environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am given to understand that the opening date is still planned for early November. I can't wait!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-73857768453090058422013-05-31T19:51:00.002+01:002013-05-31T19:51:41.567+01:00End of an era<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWcd27c71uAL456wp_27FyQEyxaMmx7yHUsuz1AmlcKXTIhLyJTOx4D0XYjN0w2gHAOmvd5EgGGh4eFlxJfnksTmkjq841LF5PHLWefMaRrYsTkotRrmsx4Q4ad5w2XnjewyEico9D3p-/s1600/image4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWcd27c71uAL456wp_27FyQEyxaMmx7yHUsuz1AmlcKXTIhLyJTOx4D0XYjN0w2gHAOmvd5EgGGh4eFlxJfnksTmkjq841LF5PHLWefMaRrYsTkotRrmsx4Q4ad5w2XnjewyEico9D3p-/s320/image4.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today saw the doors close on the East Sussex Record Office at the Maltings in Lewes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The record office has been based there for over twenty years but it has long since outgrown its facilities. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9wsbItPGYuaStAKJ_GIKwv5peN_gVVe3EYSH-vJWo4naIjkFxsj_VkwWdFzrDS7PR4RstWffXPAqIPbG7gB0z9Y0MJONTDmNOgPscDlDrq2srdQW1uFzo8XMRx6zFayPdyx7g7IyZ80m/s1600/image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9wsbItPGYuaStAKJ_GIKwv5peN_gVVe3EYSH-vJWo4naIjkFxsj_VkwWdFzrDS7PR4RstWffXPAqIPbG7gB0z9Y0MJONTDmNOgPscDlDrq2srdQW1uFzo8XMRx6zFayPdyx7g7IyZ80m/s320/image1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The research room was in the attic, a cold and draughty room with poor access for anyone with mobility problems. There was not enough space to store all the material so in addition to the Maltings there are several other storage units; to get material stored off site often meant a wait of several weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It did tend to lead to a friendly atmosphere as cramped facilities meant anyone enjoying a eureka moment or suffering the reverse could not help but share it with their neighbours.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aDx5w33unsMgDzxHt7gMp4Radx7pV75SZsSJw4755Ejs6hwkVFGsjGoyKkzh0GJjgDFftRvsMNozDoNZDFZAKbtpczvN76e0Ool52HI9CqU_juJbvvZ6aEl4KgoaBg6ZtMtyxi9DSTk4/s1600/image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aDx5w33unsMgDzxHt7gMp4Radx7pV75SZsSJw4755Ejs6hwkVFGsjGoyKkzh0GJjgDFftRvsMNozDoNZDFZAKbtpczvN76e0Ool52HI9CqU_juJbvvZ6aEl4KgoaBg6ZtMtyxi9DSTk4/s320/image2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although some of the microfilm readers will survive the move to the Keep there is less need for them now that many parish registers are available in digital format.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But it wasn't all bad at the Maltings. Step outside the door and you were in the shadow of Lewes Castle, a short walk away from the high street with its wide range of shops and surrounded by breathtaking scenery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I won't miss the cold of the Maltings, the lack of space or delays waiting for off site material but I'll miss visiting Lewes and I do wonder what sort of atmosphere the much larger Keep will generate?</span><br />
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Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-75078634529361217792013-05-08T21:21:00.000+01:002013-05-08T21:21:25.767+01:00Wordless Wednesday: Alfriston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzJvm38X_kna6rMEzP_qTH4amd2RmLJAxoyJNjBsilJls6BbZL0Uswpn2Thqj8aC0NS5Xopbbbrvz9AgskVGf0bJhuQuJRI8uv-380zM7o_Z7_CT9KHKSKZ_8N6ufdnsPms5wondP-MhS/s1600/Alfriston+1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzJvm38X_kna6rMEzP_qTH4amd2RmLJAxoyJNjBsilJls6BbZL0Uswpn2Thqj8aC0NS5Xopbbbrvz9AgskVGf0bJhuQuJRI8uv-380zM7o_Z7_CT9KHKSKZ_8N6ufdnsPms5wondP-MhS/s1600/Alfriston+1953.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1953</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90YDaSz9qrW65FeG22gwSxfObrX91mWJEuCJGbr9B2809F-8cTnPdejgkyITYiqIPkUjwryWre52d9zjroaKBsuCdKvaCP7ByqnG2u8qs1BovqHdExsEn06LNF_tUUT04G95wJYc8jBwc/s1600/Alfriston+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90YDaSz9qrW65FeG22gwSxfObrX91mWJEuCJGbr9B2809F-8cTnPdejgkyITYiqIPkUjwryWre52d9zjroaKBsuCdKvaCP7ByqnG2u8qs1BovqHdExsEn06LNF_tUUT04G95wJYc8jBwc/s1600/Alfriston+2012.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a> 2012</span></div>
<br />Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-52444632620063012102013-04-30T23:05:00.002+01:002013-04-30T23:05:55.115+01:00In need of a pick me up?<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRE4VEKTpshUZQptNEfUKpG_IScf-EbgeuucFYcUytQ3QWyq9yp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRE4VEKTpshUZQptNEfUKpG_IScf-EbgeuucFYcUytQ3QWyq9yp" width="147" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are suffering from the various bugs that are plaguing us at the end of this long cold winter you might be interested in this seventeenth century recipe for a caudle taken from Dick Richardson's book <i>The Sussex Recipe Book</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A caudle is a thick, sweet and alcoholic drink which was believed to be beneficial and to have medicinal properties.</span><br />
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<div class="Notes" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYewju-yJUtw-JzSlgsMiDsM6qXyGUd1CBCFi1ZfOOYmNrHWKx-C-QSn2Gwsq71p_1ZXWgM9yvjmR8P3S8V6WJiPnjDU7gZQuAk6qESDdg8R6TfIuFM6tmibLtZKgJuhaGu2HakaODi7kL/s1600/Jamacia+peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYewju-yJUtw-JzSlgsMiDsM6qXyGUd1CBCFi1ZfOOYmNrHWKx-C-QSn2Gwsq71p_1ZXWgM9yvjmR8P3S8V6WJiPnjDU7gZQuAk6qESDdg8R6TfIuFM6tmibLtZKgJuhaGu2HakaODi7kL/s1600/Jamacia+peppers.jpg" height="163" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Put three quarts
of water on the fire; mix smooth in cold water some oatmeal to thicken it; when
boiling, pour the latter in, and twenty powdered Jamaica peppers; boil to a
good middling thickness; then add sugar, half a pint of well fermented table
beer and a glass of gin. Boil all
together.</i></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Goodness knows what it would taste like! I think I'll stick to aspirin!!</span></div>
Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882879010833022691.post-25646252726898751222013-04-13T23:38:00.000+01:002013-04-13T23:38:33.038+01:00Sussex Family History Group Annual Conference 2013<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today was the 40th annual conference
of the Sussex Family History Group, held in Haywards Heath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There were three good speakers despite
having to make a last minute to the lineup when Ian Gledhill had to withdraw.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We heard from:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Geoff Swinfield </span>on DNA and how it can
be used by family historians. Possibly
an overdone topic but Swinfield explained it clearly and humorously with a good
dose of family history. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Peter Lovett</span> talked about the
influence of invasions on the English language.
An informative talk showing the worldwide historical influence on our
language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally there was <span style="color: blue;">James Gardner</span> who
talked about the history of Brighton workhouses, the topic of his book
published last year. He did a good job
of bringing the horrors of the workhouse system to life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The usual stalls were there and the
East Sussex Record Office had many photos showing the progress of The Keep
including the room which will be the new home of the Sussex Family History
Group and its library (this year hopefully!).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To celebrate the 40<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> anniversary there are a number of family history writing competitions. The children's under 13 competition has now
closed but the other categories are under 25 years, for those with a mainly
Sussex family history and for those with a family history outside of Sussex. First price for each category is £100. The standard in the children's competition
was excellent and shows there is a lot of budding family historians out
there. For more details see the <a href="http://www.sfhg.org.uk/competitions.html" target="_blank">SFHGwebsite</a>.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sussexbytheseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977529592722113720noreply@blogger.com0