Document 6442998
Transcription
Document 6442998
Issue 12 December 2008 MISSION STATEMENT: The Dunedin Family History Group’s purpose is to promote interest in the field of family history through educational programs, to collect and disseminate genealogical knowledge and information, and to provide support and guidance to those trying to research all aspects of their family history. PROGRAMME FOR 2008 / 2009 A BIT OF THIS AND A BIT OF THAT Wednesday 10 December 2008 CHRISTMAS BREAK-UP MEETING “It’s On The Tree” Quiz ight Venue: St Peters Church Hall, Hillside Road, South Dunedin Time: Meeting begins at 7.30 pm but the hall will be open from 7 pm onwards. Cost: $2 door charge (bring along some extra change as we will also be having a raffle to raise funds for the group). The meeting will conclude with a free Christmas supper - tea, coffee, cordial and biscuits. Thursday 29 January 2009 SPECIAL GROUP MEETING THIS WILL BE A COMBINED MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND INC. There will be a talk on the role of the Family History Society of New Zealand Incorporated which is based in Christchurch. There will also be a presentation on Dunedin repositories. WHAT THIS SPACE IN YOUR JANUARY NEWSLETTER FOR FURTHER DETAILS. Venue: St Peters Church Hall, Hillside Road, South Dunedin Time: Meeting begins at 7.30 pm but the hall will be open from 7 pm onwards. Cost: $2 door charge (bring along some extra change as we will also be having a raffle to raise funds for the group). The meeting will conclude with a free supper - tea, coffee, cordial and biscuits. Wednesday 11 February 2009 PROBLEM SOLVING NIGHT Please come along with lots of questions to ask on the night. A panel of “experts” will be present to help answer any of your questions. We would appreciate having some of your questions prior to the meeting so we can do some research for you and hopefully provide some answers. WE WILL ALSO BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF OUR ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION. Venue: St Peters Church Hall, Hillside Road, South Dunedin Time: Meeting begins at 7.30 pm but the hall will be open from 7 pm onwards. Cost: $2 door charge (bring along some extra change as we will also be having a raffle to raise funds for the group). The meeting will conclude with a free supper - tea, coffee, cordial and biscuits. Our ovember meeting was once again well attended. We were privileged to have George Griffiths, owner of the now closed Otago Heritage Bookshop, bring along some of his stock for sale at the meeting. His book “Books & Pamphlets on Southern Z - A Simplified Locality Guide 1772 to the 21st Century”, originally for sale at $100, was sold on the night for $20. We had a lot of fun trying to work out the meanings of old occupations and medical terms and a full list is included in this newsletter. All year I promised to tell you what a nose picker did. Well they worked in the brewery industry removing the flowers from the hop plant. Many members also took the opportunity of using Heather Bray’s “Otago Daily Times Index” to births, deaths, marriages and memorial notices 1994 to today. One member found two elson deaths she had been seeking for some months. The Order of Service project continues to grow and we now have over 2000 entries. Please keep them coming. Rex Robert’s list of Australian Cemeteries websites which were on offer in our ovember newsletter have proved very popular. I have sent out 40 copies to members. We need topics for 2009. If you have any suggestions please let us know. One topic suggested so far is how to go about organising a Family or School reunion. Our website should be active early in 2009. We will have the full index of the “Orders of Service” project on the site. It has been a real learning curve setting it up and I thank Kaye for all the time and effort she has put into it. There will be a January newsletter but it will come out about the 14th January to allow your editor to have a bit of a Christmas holiday. February’s newsletter will follow on the 1st February. Well we did it. A full year’s worth of newsletters. I plan to spent Christmas indexing the 2008 newsletters. Thank you to everyone for your support. Also a big thank you to everyone who has provided me with raffles and donations which have helped to keep us going financially this year. Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Genealogical ew Year. Heather Bray Wednesday 11 March 2009 DUNEDIN CEMETERIES Guest speaker: Stewart Harvey Venue: St Peters Church Hall, Hillside Road, South Dunedin Time: Meeting begins at 7.30 pm but the hall will be open from 7 pm onwards. Cost: $2 door charge (bring along some extra change as we will also be having a raffle to raise funds for the group). The meeting will conclude with a free supper - tea, coffee, cordial and biscuits. CONTACT DETAILS FOR GROUP Dunedin Family History Group C/- 28 Milburn Street, Corstorphine Dunedin 9012 [email protected] The Dunedin Family History Group cannot vouch for the accuracy of goods and services that are advertised in this newsletter or be responsible for the outcome of any contract which may be entered into by a reader with an advertiser. Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the group. This newsletter is copyrighted to the Dunedin Family History Group. No part may be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holders. Page 1 GENEALOGICAL HAPPENINGS WORLD-WIDE News from Dunedin DUNEDIN PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS Sunday, 30 November 2008 from 11 am The Library’s normal peace and quiet takes a back seat for a day as they enjoy their birthday with fun and activities on every floor. FAMILY HISTORY MONTH 2009 The NZSG Mosgiel Branch will be hosting a one day seminar on Saturday 21 March 2009. Watch this space for further details. News from Around New Zealand Index to Christchurch Death Notices in “The Press” newspaper An Index to death notices in “The Press” newspaper is available on www.stuff.co.nz Click on “The Press” newspaper and then scroll down the page and on the right-hand side click on “Readers Services”. Again on the right-hand side you will find a panel “Readers Services” which contains the death notice list of names 2000 to the present. This lists the name and date the death notice appeared in “The Press”. For further information read the “hint and instructions” section on the website. BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE NOTICES FROM NEW ZEALAND NEWSPAPERS www.oldnewsbios.co.nz With 14,512 names, Old News Bios is a database of notices that appeared in old newspapers mainly dealing with births, deaths and marriages. Among the newspapers included are: News from England Soldiers’ Discharge Papers You can search an index of British soldiers discharged to pension between 1760 and 1913 (which are in class ‘WO 97’) free of charge using the web-based catalogue of the UK’s National Archives (known as the Public Record Office until 2003) at catalogue.pro.gov.uk. You can then order copies of the actual pension records online at www.pro.gov.uk for a minimum charge of £10. News from Scotland Scottish Strays Marriage Index The Anglo-Scottish Family History Society (ASFHS) has compiled an index of marriages that took place outside Scotland, where at least one of the partners was born in Scotland. You can search the index online free of charge at the website of the ASFHS’s parent society, the Manchester and Lancashire FHS (www.mlfhs.org.uk). News from Ireland www.genwed.com/UK/search-ireland.htm Gen Wed is a search engine which allows you to search multiple Irish related databases for free. Among the many databases is the pre-1840 Freeholder's Records (people entitled to vote in elections) and Ireland-Australia Convict Transportation Database, 1791-1853 and Free Settlers' Papers, 1828 to 1848 Cadzow / Michie Family Bruce Herald The Bruce Herald was first published in November 1864 in Milton. Reunion Originally the newspaper was published weekly until the end of 1872 A combined reunion will be held on 11 from which time it was published twice weekly. Copies of the Bruce and 12 April (Easter) 2009 in Dunedin, Herald are also available online at www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Otago. Included in index online: 1864 to 1882 - births, marriages and deaths Robert and Janet (nee BRYSON) Dunstan Times CADZOW arrived in Dunedin in 1863 on The Dunstan Times was published in Clyde. the “Mataura”. Included in index online: 1866 to 1900 - births, marriages, and deaths Mataura Ensign Their children: Copies of the Mataura Ensign are available online at John CADZOW married Margaret MICHIE www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Robert CADZOW Included in index online: January to June 1883 - births, marriages, Grace CADZOW deaths, inquests Jessie CADZOW The Oamaru Times / North Otago Times Marion CADZOW married James STEWART Available online at www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Mary CADZOW married (1) Captain MORGAN (2) W. ROBERTS Included in index online: Christine CADZOW married Martin PRYDE 1864 to 1867 - births, marriages, deaths, funerals, obituaries, inquests January to March 1901 - births, marriages, deaths, funerals, Jessie CADZOW married John CALDER obituaries Grace CADZOW married David KILGOUR May 1904 - births, marriages, deaths, funerals, obituaries Agnes CADZOW married John THOMPSON Otago Daily Times Included in index online: William and Janet (nee ARMOUR) MICHIE arrived in 1870 - births, marriages, deaths Dunedin in 1861 on the “Pladda”. 1871 - births, marriages, deaths, funerals, obituaries Their children: The Otago Witness Janet MICHIE married Horace KITT Available online at www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Included in index online: Mary MICHIE married Andrew WALKER 1851 to 1853 - births, marriages, deaths, and inquests Margaret MICHIE married John CADZOW 1915 - obituaries, birthdays, anniversaries Agnes MICHIE married John McINNES 1916 - obituaries, birthdays, anniversaries Alice MICHIE married Benjamin KITT The Tapanui Courier David MICHIE married Louisa DAVIS Included in index online: 1876 to 1900 - births, marriages, and deaths William MICHIE married Margaret DUCKWORTH The Wakatipu Mail This newspaper was published in Queenstown. For further details or register your interest in attending please Included in index online: 1863, 1864, 1873, 1875, 1879 and 1884 - births, marriages and contact: deaths Len and Maureen Cadzow, 9 Devon Place, Mosgiel, Otago, 1885 to 1888, 1890, 1892 to 1900 - births, marriages, and deaths email: [email protected] University of Otago Magazine or Fiona Michie, 7 Cambridge Street, Balclutha 9230, South The alumni magazine for the University of Otago Page 2Otago, email: [email protected] Included in index online: Issue 18 - October 2007 - obituaries FOLLOW UP TO YOUR NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER NASEBY WAR MEMORIAL Bruce Cavanagh from the Gore Historical Museum and Hokonui Heritage Research Centre has been able to help us with some of the missing names from the Naseby War Memorial. R TYE - Possibly Pte. James Robert TYE, 8/2746 - 6th Reinf. Otago Infantry Battn. - He was killed in Action at Messines on 7 June 1917 and his next of kin was noted as being J TYE (father) of 29 Francis Street, Kaikorai Valley, Roslyn, Dunedin. However his enlistment address was given as Eweburn Nursery, Ranfurly and my guess is that this is why he appears on the Naseby District Memorial. C LUNIM - Possibly Pte. Charles Henry LUNAM, 8/3946 - 10th Reinf. Otago Infantry Battn. - He was Killed in Action at the Somme on 1 October 1916 and his next of kin was noted as being D LUNAM (father), Waitati, Otago. His occupation at the time of enlistment was given as being a cook and whilst there appears nothing specific to tie this person to the Naseby district I suspect that he, like so many others, has been noted on local memorials simply because that was the district that they were residing in before enlistment. J T DEEHAM - Possibly Tpr. James Edward DEEHAN, 71901 37th Reinf. Mounted Rifles Brigade - He died of disease in Egypt ex Palestine 15 October 1918 and his next of kin was noted as Mrs E DEEHAN, Dundas Street, Dunedin. James was a Telegraphist and possibly based in the Naseby district and similar to Charles LUNAM with the corruption of the spelling of his surname and also in this case the initials as well. Although in saying that it appears that James has a brother called John Thomas DEEHAN 16285, a bank clerk, as his next of kin was also Mrs Elizabeth DEEHAN, Dundas Street, Dunedin. Whilst his brother 2nd Lieut. John Thomas DEEHAN also served it appears that he survived and was noted on Archway as being a Bank Manager at the time of his death in 1940. James Edward DEEHAN has his probate in 1919 so I would be quite confident in saying J T is actually J E with the surname DEEHAN. The A MCLAREN is proving a little more difficult however there is a possibility that this could be one of the following:L/Cpl. Alexander MCLAREN, 27566 - School teacher, killed in action Ypres 12 Oct 1917 - next of kin J MCLAREN 16 Baldwin Street, North East Valley. Being a school teacher he could have been in the Naseby District? Pte. Andrew MCLAREN, 47749 - NZ Training Unit. Died of Disease 28 April 1917 and buried Southern Cemetery. Next of kin - son of Mrs M KUNDSEN (formerly MCLAREN) Beaufort Street, Pine Hill Dunedin. POSTCODE AREAS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND NZSG CD v5 FOR PUBLIC SALE Even in these days of email there will still be an occasion when you will need to post a letter to Great Britain. By using the correct postal code you are greatly increasing the likelihood that the letter will be delivered to the correct destination even if you have made an error in the rest of the address (including the spelling). In fact the right address but wrong postal code may mean your letter won’t be delivered at all. It can also be very handy in identifying the source of incoming correspondence. The following site on the Internet lists all the current Postal codes for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. You need to register to use the site but it does not cost to do searches. http://www.royalmail.com/ Shirley Hay <[email protected]> writes regarding the above CD for sale and the Otago Daily Times Headlines Index which she was involved in compiling One of the files on the CD is noted as the ‘Otago Daily Times – Headlines Index 1879-1998’ containing 120,000 records. This is a misnomer and quite incorrect for two reasons, both of which are errors by the CD compilers (who live elsewhere in New Zealand!) Firstly, the only available records which were on cards in the ODT library, dated from 1949-1998 and are fully transcribed to computer. Secondly, and more importantly, I do not have permission from Allied Press to allow the approximately 300,000 headlines as such to be accessible anywhere outside the ODT itself plus the University of Otago’s Hocken Library – which are the only two places where they are held. I have permission only for the 120,000 Nominal index headlines extracted from those records which is what is on the CD. By Nominal we mean only those headlines that contain a name – that index was separately compiled by myself for genealogical purposes. Page 3 Write up of Our ovember Branch Meeting SURNAMES AND NAMING PATTERNS British surnames were established in the period between 1250 and 1450. Many of the surnames come from Old English, Middle English, Old French, Old Norse, Irish, Gaelic, Celtic, Pictish, Welsh, Gaulish, Germanic, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. The origins of English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish surnames are often grouped together mainly because they overlap in their origins. There are four basis on which surnames originated: i) Those taking the first name of the ancestor's father (patronymic). ii) Those recording places where ancestors originated. iii) Names reflecting the occupation of the ancestor. iv) Surnames that are nicknames. FIRST-NAMES The most common form of surnames are based on the Christian name of the father i.e. the surname of William (would have originally been a Christian name). It can also have an "s" added giving Williams. In some cases, the ending "son" is added so you get Williamson, Peterson, or Davidson. The origins of some of these are not so easy to work out, such as Anderson (son of Andrew) or Tennyson (son of Dennis). In Scotland and Ireland "Mac" or "Mc" means "son of" i.e. McDonald, McWilliams, Macfarlane and so on. People settling in Ireland after the Norman Conquest sometimes used "Fitz" (from the French "fils", for "son") i.e. Fitzpatrick, Fitzgerald etc. However if "Fitz" was used in England this was often an indication of illegitimacy. The Irish "O", before a name can also mean “son of” but it originally was used to mean the “grandson of”. The suffix "kin" can be used in surnames to indicate smallness. Tomkin could have meant "Little Thomas", Wilkin could mean "Little William" and Perkin could mean "Little Peter". This did not indicate their size in stature but more likely their place in the family i.e. there were not a lot of Christian names so if a man called Thomas had three sons whom he all called John, one could have been John Thomas, another John Thomson and the youngest John Tomkin. Therefore a Christian name can be altered over time and within the same family. The name David, for example, has become: Davey, Davids, Dowell, Davidson, Davidge, Davie, Davies, Davis, Davison, Dayson, Davy, Davys, Daw, Dawe, Dawes, Dawkes, Dawkins, Daws, Dawson, Day, Davitt, Dowson, Dowd, Dowden, and Dowling. The baptismal name of Richard has been modified to give us: Dick, Dickens, Dickenson, Dickson, Dixon, Heacock, Hick, Hickin, Hickman, Hickmot, Hickox, Hicks, Hickson, Higgins, Higginson, Higgs, Higman, Hiscock, Hitch, Hitchcock, Hitchinson, Hitchmough, Hix, Reckett, Ricard, Rich, Richard, Richards, Riche, Richer, Richett, Richney, Richie, Richman, Rick, Rickard, Rickeard, Rickett, Ricketts, Rickman, Ricks, Rickson, Ritchie, Ritchard, and Rix. Welsh surnames can be difficult to trace since, though patronymic, they were not always hereditary. William's son Hugh, for example, was Hugh Williams; Hugh's son Richard was Richard Hughes, and so on. PLACES Surnames representing places or land stuctures are easy to spot i.e. Marsh, Hill, Wood etc. However the evolution of language has made others less easy to identify such as Cullen ("back of the river"), and Dunlop ("muddy hill"). OCCUPATIONS Occupational surnames should be easy to identify i.e. Barber, Baker, Sawyer etc. However, be warned, because some apparently obvious names for occupations aren't what they may seem. Meaning of names has evolved over time. Someone with the surname Banker did not obtain this from an occupation. Banker is a place surname meaning "dweller on a hillside". NICKNAMES Nicknames are the hardest to work out. For example the surname of Kennedy is Gaelic for "ugly head". So would this have been a description of someone which evolved into his surname ? NAMING PATTERNS In general, throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, families tended to name their children in a specific pattern. Although the pattern was not necessarily followed specifically it does form the basis for working out family structures. General naming pattern First son was named after the father's father Second son was named after the mother's father Third son was named after the father Fourth son was named after the father's oldest brother Fifth son father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's oldest brother First daughter was named after the mother's mother Second daughter was named after the father's mother Third daughter was named after the mother Fourth daughter was named after the mother's oldest sister Fifth daughter after the mother's 2nd oldest sister or father's oldest sister English and Welsh were not strong on using naming patterns but between 1700 and 1870 some families did follow this pattern. First Daughter was named after the Mother's Mother Second Daughter was named after the Mother's Father's Mother Third Daughter was named after the Mother Fourth Daughter was named after the Mother's oldest Sister First Son was named after the Father's Father Second Son was named after the Mother's Father Third Son was named after the Father Fourth Son was named after the Father's oldest Brother Ireland did use a slightly different naming pattern in the 1800's First Daughter was named after the father’s Grandmother Second Daughter was named after the mother’s Grandmother First Son was named after the father’s Grandfather Second Son was named after the mother’s Grandfather Then alternate names using the Grandmother's, Grandfather's, Mother's, Aunt's, and Uncle's names Scotland probably used the naming pattern most widely between the 1700s and late 1800s First son was named after father's father Second son was named after mother's father Third son was named after father First daughter named after mother's mother Second daughter named after father's mother Third daughter named after mother Page 4 EARLY OCCUPATIONS The following list describes various old occupations which have been extracted from the 1841-1901 British and Scottish census. A ACATER - supplied food provisions, e.g. a ships chandler ACCIPITRARY - falconer ACCOMPTANT - accountant ACCOUCHEUR / ACCOUCHEUS - one who assisted women in childbirth ACCOUTREMENT MAKER / ACCOUTRE - supplier of military accessories ACKERMAN / ACREMAN - ploughman, an ox herder ACTUARY - kept public accounts of business ADVERTISEMENT CONVEYANCER - sandwich board man ALABASTERER - worked with alabaster ALBLASTERE - crossbow man ALDERMAN - senior councillor one position down from Mayor in the local council ALE-CONNER / ALE FOUNDER - official who tested quality and measure of ale served in public houses ALE DRAPER - seller of ale ALE TUNNER - employed by the brewery to fill ale casks with ale ALEWIFE - woman tavern-keeper ALNAGER - official who examined the quality of woollen goods and stamped them with the town seal of approval AMANUENSIS - secretary or stenographer ANCHOR SMITH - made anchors ANKLE BEATER - young person who helped to drive the cattle to market ANNATTO MAKER - worked in the manufacture of dyes for paint or printing ANTIGROPELOS MAKER - made waterproof leggings ANVIL SMITH - made anvils and hammers for blacksmiths APIARIAN - beekeeper APOTHECARY - prepared and sold medicines or drugs; pharmacist APRONMAN - mechanic ARCHIL MAKER - made a violet dye from lichens, used in the textile industry ARKWRIGHT - skilled craftsman who produced "arks" (wooden chests or coffers) ASHMAN - dustman ASSAYER - determined the proportions of metal in ore AURIFABER - goldsmith AVENATOR (PLANTIFENE) - hay and forage merchant AXEL TREE MAKER / AXEL TREE TURNER - made axels for coaches and wagons B BACKMAKER - made "backs", vats, tubs, a cooper BACK WASHER - employed to clean the wool in the worsted manufacturing industry BAGMAN - travelling salesman BALER - bales hay and in the mills one who bailed wool or cotton goods BAL MAIDEN - female mine worker who worked on the surface (also a Pit Brow Lass) BAND FILER - metal worker in the gun making industry BANDSTER - bound the wheat sheaves after harvest BANKER - dug trenches and ditches to allow drainage of the land, placing the surplus earth in banks around the edge BANKSMAN - employed in the mining industry being in charge of the cages at the pit head (sometimes known as a bank manager) BARGEE / BARGEMAN - worked on or owned and operated a barge BARKEEPER - another name for a toll keeper BARKER - tanner BASIL WORKER - worked with sheep and goat skins BASKETMAN - made baskets and furniture from wicker, and also employed to empty the basket of coal being offloaded from the colliers into the barges BASS / BAST DRESSER - employed in dressing fibre or matting BATT MAKER - made the wadding used in quilt and mattress making BATTLEDORE MAKER - made the beaters used on clothes carpets etc to remove the dust (later made the paddles used in washing machines) BEAD PIERCER - employed to drill the holes in beads BEAMER - winds the warp on the roller before putting it on the loom in the textile industry BEARER - worked underground carrying the coal to the bottom of the pit shaft and placed it in the containers for uplifting to the surface BEAVER - made felt used in hat making BEESKEPMAKER - made beehives BEETLER - operated a beetling machine, used in the textile trade for embossing fabric BELL HANGER - installed bells in churches BELLOWFARMER - responsible for the care and maintenance of the church organ BELLOWS MAKER - made bellows used for organs or blacksmiths fires BELLY BUILDER - built and fitted the interiors of pianos BENDER - cut leather BESOM MAKER - made brooms BEVER - beverage maker BILLIER / BILLYMAN - operated a Billy Roller, a machine used in the cotton industry to prepare the cotton for spinning BILL POSTER - put up notices, signs and advertisements BINDER - bound items, e.g., books, hats etc . BIRD BOY - employed to scare away birds from crops BLACKING MAKER - made polish for shoes BLADESMITH - sword maker or knife maker BLAXTER / BLEACHER - bleached cloth or paper pulp BLINDSMAN - employed by the Post Office to deal with incorrectly addressed letters and parcels BLOWER - glass blower, one who operated a "blowing machine" used to clean and separate fibres in the textile trade, one who operated the bellows at a blacksmiths BOATSWAIN - ship's officer in charge of riggings & sails BOBBER - who polished metals one who helped to unload fishing boats BOBBIN CARRIER - worked in spinning and weaving sections of the mills BOBBIN TURNER - made the bobbins used in the spinning and weaving industry BODEYS / BODY MAKER - made bodices for women's garments BOILERMAKER - worked with metal in any industrial setting BOILER PLATER - made rolled iron plate used to make boilers for steam engines etc BOLL - looked after power looms in the weaving industry BONE BUTTON TURNER - made buttons using a lathe BONE LACE MAKER - made pillow lace BONE MOULD TURNER - made the moulds for button manufacturers BOOK GILDER - decorated books with gold leaf BOOK KEEPER - looked after the accounts for businesses BOONMASTER - surveyor of roads with the responsibilities of maintaining and repairing the road BOOTBINDER - employed to operate the machines which bound footwear BOOT CLOSER - worked in the shoe trade stitching together all the parts of a shoe upper BOOTHMAN - corn merchant BORLER - who made cheap coarse clothing BOTCHER - tailor or cobbler BOTTLE BOY - pharmacists assistant BOWDLER - worked with iron ore BOWLMAN / BOWLWOMAN - dealer in crockery BOWLMINDER - in charge of the vats used for washing raw wool before processing BRACHYGRAPHER - shorthand writer BRAIDER - made cord by twisting threads or strips of leather BRAILLER - made girdles BRAKEMAN / BRAKESMAN - operated the winch at the pit head or operated the braking mechanism on trains and trams BRASILER - dyer BRAZIER - worker with brass BREWSTER - female brewer or brewer Page 5 BRIGHTSMITH - metal worker BROOM-DASHER - dealer in brooms BROOM SQUIRE - broom maker BROW GIRL - female employed at the pit head BROWNSMITH - works with copper or brass BUCKLER / BUCKLESMITH - made buckles BUCKLE TONGUE MAKER - made the metal points that go in the holes of a belt BUCKRAM MAKER - worked with buckram (used in stiffening materials) e.g. belts, lapels and collars BUCK WASHER - laundress BUDDLEBOY - employed to use and maintain the vats used in the lead and tin mines for washing the ore BULLWHACKER - oxen driver BUMMAREE - middle man between the wholesaler and the retailer at the fish markets BUNTER - female rag & bone collector BURLER - quality inspector for clothing BURMAIDEN - chambermaid or lady-in-waiting BURNEMAN - carrier of barm or water for brewers BUSHEL MAKER - cooper BUSHELER - tailor's helper BUSS MAKER - maker of guns BUSKER - hair dresser BUTNER - button maker BUTTER CARVER - made imprints in butter pats BUTTON BURNISHER - button polisher BUTTY - negotiated mining contracts and supplied the labour C CADDY BUTCHER - butcher that dealt in horse meat CADDIE - messenger or errand boy CAFFLER - rag and bone collector CAINER - made walking sticks CAIRD - another term for a tinker CALCINER - burnt bones to make powdered lime CALENDER - one who listed documents CALICO PRINTER - dyed and colored calico CAMBRIC MAKER - made a fine linen or cotton fabric called cambric CANDLE MAKER / CANDLER - who made and sold candles CANNALLER - canal boat worker CANVASER - one who made canvas CAPER - cap maker CAPITALIST - investor CARDROOMER - term for anyone who worked in the carding room of the mills CARDER - cards wool CARDMAKER - maker of cards or instruments for combing wool CARMAN / CHARMAN / CARTER / CARRIER - one who drove a vehicle used to transport goods CARD NAILER / NAILORA - maintained the teeth (nails) on the carding machine used for preparing wool and cotton for weaving CARTER - one who carries or conveys in or as if in a cart CART WHEELER - one who made cart wheels CARTOGRAPHER - map maker CARTWRIGHT - maker of carts & wagons CASHMARIE - one who sold fish usually at inland markets CASTRATOR - who castrated farm animals aka gelder CATTLE JOBBER - buys and sells cattle CAULKER - filled up cracks (in ships or windows) or seams to make them watertight CEILER - puts up the ceilings in buildings CELLARMAN - looked after the beer, wines and spirits in public houses or the warehouse CEMMER - hand combed the yarn before weaving CHAFF CUTTER - made chaff by cutting straw CHAFFERER - dealer in chaff CHAIR BODGER - travelling chair repairman CHAISE MAKER - made carts from wicker CHAMBER MASTER - shoemaker that worked from home as an outworker or selling direct CHEESE FACTOR / CHEESEMAN / CHEESE MONGER dealer in cheeses CHAPELER - made and sold hats CHARWOMAN - cleaning woman CHIFFONIER - wig maker CHINGLOR - rooftiler who used wooden shingles CHIP - shipwright or carpenter CHIPPERS LABOURER - assistant to a shipwright or ships carpenter CHIROPODIST - treats diseases of the feet & hands CHOWDER - fish monger CLAY CARRIER - assistant to the shot firer in the pits CLAYMAN / CLEYMAN - worked in the clay pits usually preparing the clay for making bricks and also one who coated the outside of buildings with clay to make them water proof CLOTHIER / CLOTHESMAN / CLOTHMAN - who made or sold clothes COAL BACKER - carried the sacks of coal from the coal barge to the coal wagons COAL BURNER - made charcoal COAL DRAWER - worked in the mines pushing or dragging the coal carts the bottom of the pit COAL HEAVER - unloaded coal COALMAN / COAL MERCHANT / COAL HIGGLER - sold coal usually from a horse and cart, house to house. COALMETER - measured the coal COAL RUNNER - attended the coal carts underground COAL WHIPPER - unloaded coal from ships using baskets attached to a simple form of crane COBBLER - shoemaker COBLEMAN - used a flat bottomed boat for fishing COD PLACER - put fire proof containers which held the pottery for firing into the kiln COLLAR MAKER - made horse collars and one who made shirt collars COLLIER - coal miner, a coal merchant or one who worked on the coal barges COLOUR MAN - mixed the dyes in the textile trade and also assistant to a house painter COMB MAKER - made combs either for the textile industry for combing wool etc. or the maker of hair combs COMPOSITOR - set the type ready for printing CORACLE MAKER - made coracles, a small round boat used for fishing COXWAIN - ship or boat helmsman CROFTER - tenant of a small piece of land CURER - cures tobacco CUTLER - knife seller or sharpener D DAIRYMAN - worker or owner of a dairy farm or seller of dairy products DELVER - dug ditches DEXTER - dyer DIPPER - who worked in the pottery trade and was responsible for the glazing of items DISTILLER - maker of alcoholic beverages DOOR KEEPER - guard, janitor, or porter DOUBLER - who operated a machine used to twist together strands of fibre (cotton, wool etc) DOWSER / DIVINER - water finder DRAGMAN - fisher man who fished by dragging a net along the bottom of the water DRAINER - who made drains DRAPER - dealer in fabrics and sewing needs DRAWBOY - weavers assistant in the shawl making mills, they sat atop the looms and lifted the heavy warps. DRESSING MACHINE MAKER - who made sewing machines DROVER - sheep or cattle driver DUFFER - peddler of cheap goods DUSTMAN / DUSTBIN MAN - collected domestic refuse DYER - employed in the textile mills to colour fabric prior to weaving E ELLERMAN / ELLIMAN - who sold oil used for lamps and known as an oilman ELYMAKER - oilmaker EMBOSSER - who moulded or carved designs that were raised above the surface of the material ENGINEMAN - employed at a mine to be in charge of the machinery used to crush the ore ENGINE TENTER - who operated the machine which stretched the cloth whilst drying in a woollen mill Page 6 ENUMERATOR - who collected the information for the census from the householder and recorded it EYER - one who made eyes in needles used for sewing. F FAKER - photographic assistant who added colour to photographs by hand before colour film was available FALCONER - breeds, trains, or hunts with hawks FANCY-PEARL WORKER - worked in mother-of-pearl making buttons or fancy goods FEATHERMAN - dealer in feathers and plumes FEATHER-WIFE - woman who prepared feathers for use FELLER - woodcutter FELL MONGER - remover of hair or wool from hides in leather making FELTER - worker in the hatting industry FILLER - who filled bobbins in mills FINE DRAWER - employed in tailoring to repair tears in the cloth (invisible mending) FIREBEATER - tended the boilers that powered the machinery in a cotton mill FLAXDRESSER - prepared flax prior to spinning FLESHMONGER / FLESHER - butcher or one who worked in a tannery FLESHEWER - butcher FLETCHER - arrowsmith (from French fleche). FLUSHERMAN - who cleaned out water mains FLYCOACHMAN - driver of one-horse carriage hired by the day FRAME SPINNER - worker on a loom FRAMER - one who frames houses FRAMEWORKER KNITTER - operator of machine which made hosiery FULLER - cloth worker who shrinks, beats and presses the cloth G GALVANISER - iron worker who handled process of coating metal with zinc, to inhibit formation of rust GANGSMAN - foreman GAOLER - jailer GARTHMAN - owner or worker of a fish trap GAS MANAGER - foreman position in charge of checking for poisonous gas in coal mine shafts GELDER - castrator of animals, especially horses GILDER - applies gold leaf GLAZIER - glass cutter GLOVER - one that makes or sells gloves GOLDSMITH - maker of gold articles, banker GREENSMITH - worker in copper or latten H HABERDASHER - seller of men's clothing HACKER - maker of hoes HACKLER / HACKMAN / HECKLER - one who separated the coarse part of flax or hemp with a hackle, an instrument with teeth in linen industry HACKNEY MAN - renter of horses & carriages HAIR SEATING & CURLED HAIR MERCHANT - dealer in horse-hair stuffing used in upholstery HAIRWEAVER / HAIRMAN - weaver of cloth composed wholly or partly of horsehair HAMMERMAN - hammerer, a smith HANDSELLER - street vendor HANDWOMAN - midwife or female attendant HATTER - maker of or dealer in hats HAWKER / HUCKSTER - peddler HAYMONGER - dealer in hay HEALD KNITTER - operator of a machine which produced a jersey type of fabric as opposed to woven fabric HECK MAKER - maker of a part of a spinning machine by which the yarn is guided to the reels HEELMAKER - made shoe heels HELLIER / HILLIER - tiler or slater HILLIER - roof tiler HOSIER - retailer of stockings, socks, gloves, nightcaps I ICEMAN - seller or deliverer of ice IRON MONGER - dealer in hardware made of iron (also known as a feroner) J JAKES-FARMER - one who emptied cesspools JOBMASTER - supplied carriages, horses and drivers for hire JOYNER or JOINER - skilled carpenter JOURNEYMAN - one who served his apprenticeship and mastered his craft; properly, one who no longer is bound to serve for years but is hired day to day K KIDDIER - skinner or dealer in young goats KILNER - lime burner, in charge of a kiln KNACKER - harness maker, buyer of old horses and dead animals L LACEMAN - dealer in lace, who collected it from the makers, usually only those who had bought his thread, and sold it in the lace markets LACE-RUNNER - young worker who embroidered patterns on lace LATTENER - brass worker LAUNDERER - washer LAYER - worker in paper mill responsible for a particular stage in paper-making process LINENER - linen draper, shirt maker LINER / LYNER - flax dresser LUTHIER - maker and repairer of stringed musical instruments M MADERER - gathered and sold garlic MALSTER - brewer, maker or seller of malts MASON - stonecutter MEALMAN - dealer in meal or flour MELDER - corn miller MERCER - cloth seller MILLPECK - sharpener of mill stones MILLNER - maker of women's' hats MILLWRIGHT - designer & builder of mills or mill machinery MIXER - bartender MOCADO WEAVER - weaver of woollen cloth used for making clothes 16-17th century. MUGGLER - pigman N NARROW WEAVER - weaver of ribbons, tapes, etc NECKER - worker responsible for the feeding of cardboard into the machine the makes boxes NETTER - net maker NIGHT SOILMAN / NIGHTMAN - one who emptied cesspits, ashpits and backyard toilets NIPPER - lorry boy, a young person employed by the carter or wagoner to assist with the collection and delivery of goods O OILMAN - sold the oil for lamps ORRICE WEAVER - designer of lace patterns to be woven OUTWORKER - worker who carried on their occupation at home, e.g., cotton or woollen weavers but it applies to many occupations P PACKMAN - travelled around carrying goods for sale in a pack PACK THREAD SPINNER - operator of the machine which made thread or twine PAINTRESS - woman employed in the pottery industry to hand paint the finished articles PAPER-STAINER - one who made wallpaper PALING MAN - seller of eels PAPERER - inserted the needles into the paper ready for sale in the needle making trade PARFUMIER / PERFUMER - manufacturer and purveyor of scents such as perfumes, colognes and even incense PARGETER - applied ornamental plaster to buildings PAVER / PAVIOUR - laid paving stones PELTERER - one who worked with animal skins PESSONER - fish monger PICKER - one who cast the shuttle on a loom PINNER - pin make PINNER UP - dressmakers assistant or one who sold broadsheets or ballads in the streets PITMAN - coal miner Page 7 PLAITER - maker of straw plaits used in making hats etc PLANKER - one who planks or kneads the body of the hat during felting POINTER - sharpened needles or pins or lace maker POINTSMAN - railway worker who operated the points, used to change the line on which the train was travelling PORTER - door or gatekeeper POSTER - one who worked in the quarries breaking rocks POTATO BADGER - seller of potatoes POT BOY / MAN - one who worked in public houses washing and removing dirty pots also did other menial tasks POULTER - seller of poultry POWER LOOM TUNER - one who maintained the loom in mills PROCTOR - official of a university PUBLICAN - innkeeper Q QUARRIER / QUARRYMAN - quarry worker QUILLER - one who operated a machine that wound yarn onto spools QUISTER - one who bleached things R RAG CUTTER - one who cut up rags into small pieces to be used for making paper etc RAG MAN - one who went from street to street collecting and selling old clothes and rags RAKER - street sanitation worker REEDMAKER - made the pipe for a musical instrument or made a weavers implement (a reed) or reed cloth or the comb used in tapestry REELER - operated the machine that wound the yarn onto the bobbin REGISTRAR - official who registers events such as land purchases or births RENOVATOR - one who repaired clothing RIDDLER - wool stapler RIPPER / RIPPIER - one who sold fresh water fish at the markets or maker and seller of baskets ROLLEYWAY MAN - maintained the underground road in the mines ROLL TURNER - carder of wool, cotton etc into rolls prior to spinning ROPER - maker of rope or nets ROVER - archer or operator of a machine used in cotton mills which prepared the carded fibre into rolls RUGMAN - dealer in rugs S SADDLER - one who made saddles, harnesses, horse collars, bridles SADDLE TREE MAKER - one who made the frames for saddles that the saddler used SAGGER MAKER - one who made the fireclay containers in which the stoneware was placed ready for firing SALT BOILER - one who obtained salt by boiling water SANDWICHMAN - wears a sandwich billboard for advertising SAWYER - saws timber to boards SCAVELMAN - employed to keep the waterways and ditches clear SCRIBBLER - employed in a scibbling mill where the wool was roughly carded before spinning SCRIBER - employed at the docks to mark the cotton bales with the approximate weight ready for selling by the brokers SEAL PRESSER - employed in the glass industry to seal the bath against air intake which could spoil the finished surface SEEDSMAN - sower of seeds SEXTON - employee or officer of a church who cared and up kept church property and sometimes rang bells and dug SHEARER - removed the fleece from sheep SHEARGRINDER - sharpened shears, scissors SHINGLER - A roof tiler who used wooden tiles (shingles) SHUNTER - one who moved rolling stock around the railway yards SHUTTLE MAKER - made the shuttles for the weaving mills SILK THROWER - worker in the silk industry SILVERSMITH - worked with silver SLAPPER / SLAPER - one who worked in a pottery preparing the clay for the potter SLATER - roofer SOAP BOILER (SOPER) - soap maker SPICER - grocer or dealer in spices SPINNER - spins yarn SPOONER - made spoons SPURRER or SPURRIER - maker of spurs STALLMAN - keeper of a market stall STAMPMAN - worker of an ore crushing machine STATIONER - bookseller, seller of paper & writing implements STAY MAKER - corset maker STEWARD - manager of property, purveyor of supplies or someone who attended passengers on conveyance STICHER - one who does decorative stitching STOCKINGER - knitter, weaver, or dealer in stockings STOKER - tends the fire of an engine boiler STONEMAN / STONEWARDEN - a surveyor of highways STOREMAN - one responsible for stored goods STRAW PLAITER - one who made straw braids for the hat industry STREAKER - one who prepared the body for burial STRIPPER - employed in the woollen trade to remove the rubbish from the carding machines SWORD CUTLER - sword maker T TACKLER - an overlooker of power loom weavers TAILOR - one who made or repaired clothes TALLOW CHANDLER - made or sold candles TANNER - leather maker TAPER WEAVER - one who made the wicks for candles TASSLER - one who made tassels used in furnishings or nobleman THATCHER - one who covered roofs with straw or reeds THRESHER - one who separated the grain from the husks and straw THROWSTER - one in the textile trade who twisted the strands of fibre together into yarn TICKET WRITER - person (usually female) who hand wrote or painted the price tickets on goods displayed for sale and painted the signs that go up to make a window display TIEMAKER - one who made wooden railway ties TILER - one who put tiles in place either on the roof or floor TOBACCO SPINNER - maker of cigars TURNPIKE KEEPER - worked at the toll gate to collect fees for use of the road TOOL HELVER - made tool handles TOW CARD MAKER - one who made tow cards, used in the textile industry TWIST HAND - one who operated a lace machine U UPHOLDER - upholsterer and also a seller of second-hand goods V VALUATOR - who valued objects VICTUALER - seller of food/drink VINTER - wine merchant W WAGONER - wagon or cart driver WAILER - one employed in the mines to remove the impurities from the coal WAINWRIGHT - builder or repairer of wagons WAREHOUSEMAN - in charge of or employee in a warehouse WASHMAN - tin coater WATCH FINISHER - assembled watches and clocks WATCHMAN - town official who guarded the streets at night WELL SINKER - dug wells WELL WRIGHT - made the winding equipment used to raise the bucket in the well WET GLOVER - made leather gloves WHEELER - wheel maker, attended to the spinning wheel in the textile industry and one who led the pit ponies that pulled the tubs underground in the mines WHEELWRIGHT / WRIGHT - maker or repairer of wagon wheels WHIPCORD MAKER / WHIPMAKER - made whips WHITENING ROLL MAKER - made the whitening used in whitening walls of cottages WRIGHT - builder or repairer Page 8 Y YARDMAN - rail road yard worker YEOMAN - farmer who owns his own land Z ZINCOGRAPHER - designer who etched in relief a pattern on zinc plates used for printing OLD MEDICAL TERMS The following list describes various old medical terms found in parish records and death certificates in England, Ireland and Scotland. A ABORTUS FEVER - Brucellosis, a disease caught from cattle via milk resulting in a fever. ABSCESS - a swelling in soft tissue filled with pus caused by an infection, such as a boil. ADDISON’S DISEASE - anaemic condition caused by kidney disease. A disease characterised by severe weakness, low blood pressure, and a bronzed coloration of the skin, due to decreased secretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland. AGUE - malarial infection characterised by paroxysms (stages of chills, fever, and sweating at regularly recurring times) and followed by an interval or intermission of varying duration. ANAEMIA - lack of sufficient red blood cells, sometimes caused by iron deficiency and worsened by the medical practice of bleeding patients for virtually every condition. Also known as green fever, green sickness. See also chlorosis. ANEURYSM - a ballooning of an artery caused by a weakened artery wall. ANASCARA - generalised dropsy. See dropsy. APHONIA - laryngitis APOPLEXY - paralysis caused by stroke. Sudden deprivation of all the internal and external sensation and of all motion unless of the heart and thorax. APHTHAE or APHYHOUS fever, see thrush. APHTHOUS STOMATITIS - mouth ulcer. See also canker. ASCITES - a build up of fluid in the abdomen caused by heart failure or kidney disease. See also dropsy. ASTHENIA - see debility. ATROPHY - trophy: wasting. B BAD BLOOD - see syphilis BILIOUS FEVER - intestinal or malarial fevers. See also typhus. BILIOUSNESS - nausea, abdominal pains, headache, and constipation. Also jaundice associated with liver disease. BLACK DEATH or BLACK PLAGUE - bubonic plague, an infectious fever caused by the bacillus Yersinia pestis transmitted by the rat flea. BLACK JAUNDICE - Wiel's disease, a bacterial infection of the liver carried by rats, which can affect farmers and sewage workers. BLOOD POISONING - septicaemia, an infection throughout the body. BLOODY FLUX - blood in the stools, see dysentery. BOIL - an abscess of skin or painful inflammation of the skin or a hair follicle usually caused by a staphylococcal infection. BRAIN FEVER - see meningitis and typhus. BRIGHT’S DISEASE - Glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation). BRONCHIAL ASTHMA - a difficulty in breathing, caused by spasm of the bronchi i.e. the tubes of the lungs. BRONCHIAL CATARRH - acute bronchitis BURSTEN - hernia or rupture. C CACHEXY also CACHEXIA - a wasting syndrome. CAMP FEVER - see typhus. CANCER - a malignant and invasive growth or tumour. CANCRUM OTIS - an erosive ulcer of the cheek and lip resulting from poor hygiene. It was often seen in young children and could be fatal as it led to gangrene of the facial tissues. CANINE MADNESS - rabies or hydrophobia CANKER - an ulcerous sore of the mouth and lips. Possibly includes herpes infections commonly known as cold sores. CARDIAC INSUFFICIENCY - where the heart is no longer able to pump efficiently. It may be a consequence of a heart attack or of damage to the valves. CARDITIS - inflammation of the heart. CATALEPSY - seizure or a trance like state. CATAPLASM - a poultice. CATARRH - inflammation of a mucous membranes of the head and throat, with a flow of mucous. Bronchial catarrh was bronchitis; suffocative catarrh was croup; urethral catarrh was gleet; vaginal catarrh was leukorrhea; epidemic catarrh was the same as influenza. CEREBROSPINAL FEVER - See meningitis. CHILD BED FEVER - also known as puerperal fever is a form of septicaemia caused by lack of hygiene during the delivery of a baby. CHIN COUGH - whooping cough or tussis convulsiva, mainly a disease of childhood associated with a strange sounding cough which often brings on vomiting. CHLOROSIS - anaemia from iron deficiency CHOLERA - an acute, infectious disease caused by Vibrio comma, characterised by profuse diarrhoea, vomiting, and cramps. Cholera is spread by faeces-contaminated water and food. CHOLERA INFANTUM - a common, non-contagious diarrhoea of young children, occurring in summer or autumn. It was common among the poor and in hand-fed babies i.e. babies who were fed on mixtures of bread or flour and water, possibly with admixture of cows' milk, which might be infected, or condensed milk, which was vitamin deficient. CHOREA - a diseases of the nervous system, characterised by jerky movements chiefly of the face and Extremities. COLIC - abdominal pain and cramp. Renal colic can occur from disease in the kidney and affects the ureter; gallstone colic arises from stones in the bile duct. CLYSTER - an enema CONGESTION - accumulation of blood or other fluid in a body part or blood vessel for example congestion of the lungs in failing heart. In congestive fever the internal organs become gorged with blood. CONGESTIVE FEVER - see malaria CONSUMPTION - a wasting away of the body; formerly applied especially to pulmonary tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CONVULSIONS - violent, involuntary muscular contractions of the extremities, trunk, and head. An involuntary contraction of the fibres of the muscles, whereby the body and limbs are preternaturally distorted. See also epilepsy. CORRUPTION - infection CORYZA - a cold. See also catarrh. COSTIVENESS - constipation CRAMP COLIC - appendicitis CREEPING PARALYSIS - a term that encompasses multiple sclerosis CROUP - a spasmodic laryngitis seen mainly in children and associated with a cough and difficulties in breathing. CYNANCHE - inflammation of the throat. CYNANCHE MALIGNA - putrid sore throat. CYNANCHE PAROTIDAEA - mumps. CYNANCHE PHARYNGAEA - inflammation of the pharynx. CYNANCHE TONSILLARIS - inflammatory sore throat. See quinsy. CYNANCHE TRACHEALIS - See croup. CYANOSIS - dark skin from lack of oxygenated blood. CYSTITIS - inflammation of the bladder. D DEBILITY - abnormal bodily weakness or feebleness; decay of strength. DELIRIUM TREMENS - a nervous disorder involving muscular twitching and hallucinations caused by alcohol abuse. Also known as DT and the shakes. DEMENTIA PRAECOX - schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterised by disordered thinking and hallucinations. Page 9 DIAPHRAGMATITIS - inflammation of the diaphragm. DIPTHERIA - an acute and often fatal infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract in which a membrane grows across the throat. DROPSY - a swelling caused by accumulation of abnormally large amounts of fluid. Caused by kidney disease or congestive heart failure. DYSENTRY - inflammation of the intestine DYSPEPSIA - acid indigestion or heart burn. E ECLAMPSIA - a form of toxaemia accompanying pregnancy. EFFLUVIA EXHALATIONS - In the mid 19th century, they were called "vapours". Among the contagious effluvia were rubeolar (measles). ENDOCARDITIS - disease of the heart valves that can result from rheumatic fever. ENTERIC FEVER - See typhoid fever. ENTERITIS - inflammation of the bowel. EPILEPSY - a disorder of the nervous system, with either mild and occasional loss of attention or sleepiness or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness. Commonly caused by oxygen starvation during a difficult birth. EPISTAXIS - bleeding from the nose ERYSIPELAS - a feverish disease characterised by intense deep red local inflammation of the skin caused by Streptococcus bacterium. F FALLING SICKNESS - epilepsy. FISTULA - a sinuous ulcer. FURUNCLE - See boil. FRENCH POX - venereal disease, former name of syphilis. G GANGRENE - the decay of tissue, commonly the extremities, usually because of the failure of blood supply as in frost bite or as a complication of diabetes. GASTRITIS - inflammation of the stomach. GATHERING - an accumulation of pus. GLEET - See catarrh. GLOSSITIS - inflammation of the tongue. GOITRE - swelling of the thyroid caused by shortage of iodine in the diet. Also known as Derbyshire neck. GOUT - an arthritic disease marked by recurrent acute attacks of pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling around the joints and tendons caused by deposits of monosodium urate crystals GRAVEL - a disease characterised by small stones which are formed in the kidneys, passed along the ureters to the bladder, and expelled with the urine. See also stranguary. GREAT POX - See syphilis GRIPPE - influenza, also La Grippe or grip. H HAEMATEMESIS - literally vomiting of blood. HAEMATURIA - passing blood in the urine. HAEMORRHOIDS - piles. HAEMOPTYSIS - spitting blood. HECTIC FEVER - recurring fever with sweating, chills, and flushing. HEPATITIS - inflammation of the liver. HIVES - an allergic skin disorder, often attended by severe itching. Also called cynanche trachealis. HIP GOUT - osteomylitis HOSPITAL FEVER - See typhus. HYDROCELE - dropsy of the testicles HYDROCEPHALUS - enlarged head from accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, water on the brain. HYDROPERICARDIUM - collection of fluid around the heart resulting in constriction of the heart itself. HYDROPHOBIA - literally a fear of water which is a symptom of rabies. HYDROTHORAX - congestion of the lungs, see also dropsy. HYSTERITIS - inflammation of the womb. I ICTERUS - See jaundice. IMPOSTHUME - a collection of purulent matter in a bag or cyst. INANITION - decline from inadequate nourishment; starvation. INFANTILE PARALYSIS - poliomyelitis. J JAIL FEVER - see typhus. JAUNDICE - a yellow pigment deposited in the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes, caused by an increase of bile pigments in the blood. K KIDNEY STONE - see gravel. KINGS EVIL - scrofula, a tubercular infection of the throat lymph glands L LA GRIPPE - influenza. LEPROSY - long lasting disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae LETHARGY - a morbid drowsiness; a sleep from which one cannot be kept awake. LOCKJAW - See tetanus. LOCOMOTOR ATAXIA - A movement disorder caused by syphilitic infection of the spinal cord. LUES - See syphilis. LUES VENERA - venereal disease LUNG FEVER - See pneumonia LUNG SICKNESS - tuberculosis, see consumption. LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS - a chronic disease causing degeneration of connective tissue. It causes red skin lesions, inflammation of joints and lesions of the internal organs. Female sufferers have difficulty in carrying a child. LUPUS VULGARIS - A chronic tubercular infection of the skin involving soft yellow swellings, ulcers and abscesses. M MALARIA - a disease caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by the bites of insects such as mosquitoes.. MALIGNANT - sore throat: diphtheria MALIGNANT FEVER - See typhus. MANIA - insanity MARASMUS - progressive emaciation caused by malnutrition in young children. MEASLES - an infectious viral disease marked by rash of red circular spots. A critical eruption in a fever. MELANCHOLIA - depression. ME,BRANOUS CROUP - hoarse cough, diphtheria. MENINGITIS - A term in modern usage which is used for inflammation of the membranes on the surface of the brain, involving high fever, severe headache, and stiff muscles in the neck or back. MENORRHAGIA - excessive menstrual bleeding. MIASMA - "poisonous vapours" (bad smells) that were believed to spread infection. MILIARY FEVER - small pustules or vesicles on the skin, so called as they resemble millet seed. MILK FEVER - fever: from drinking infected milk, such as undulant fever or brucellosis. MILK LEG - thrombosis of veins in the legs caused by lying in bed too long after childbirth. It leads to ulceration of the skin. MORMAL - gangrene MORTIFICATION - infection, often used for gangrene or necrosis. MYELITIS - literally and inflammation of a nerve. MYOCARDITIS - inflammation of the heart muscle N NAPLES DISEASE - another name for syphilis. NATURAL DECAY - death through old age is frequently shown on death certificates as natural decay. NEPHRITIS - inflammation of the kidney. NEURALGIA - pain in a sensory nerve. NEURASTHENIA - neurotic condition. O OEDEMA - swelling caused by retention of fluid such as might occur with a weakened heart. OPTHALMITIS - inflammation of the eye. Page 10 OTITIS - inflammation of the ear. P PALSY - a privation of motion or feeling or both, proceeding from some cause below the cerebellum, joined with a coldness, flaccidity, and at last wasting of the parts. If affecting all the parts below the head, except the thorax and heart it is called a paraplegia, if in one side only a hemiplegia; if in some parts only on one side, a paralysis. This definition could include conditions arising from spinal injuries and stroke as well as conditions such as Bell's palsy and cerebral palsy. Shaking palsy is Parkinson's disease. PARISTHMITIS - See quinsy. PAROXYSM - convulsion. PEMPHIGUS - vesicular fever. PERICARDITIS - inflammation of the pericardium, the membrane around the heart. PERITONITIS - inflammation of the peritoneal cavity in which the intestines lie. PETECHIAL FEVER - See typhus. PHLEGMASIA - general term for inflammation. PHRENITIS - an inflammation of the brain. PHTHISIS - See consumption. PINK DISEASE - disease in children caused by mercury poisoning from the use of mercury salts in teething powders. PLEURISY or PLEURITIS - inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the chest cavity. PNEUMONIA - inflammation of the lungs produced by infections such as Diplococcus pneumoniae or Klebsiella pneumonia. PNEUMONITIS - inflammation of the lungs. PODAGRA - gout or pain in the feet. POTTER’S ASTHMA - Workers in the pottery industry of Staffordshire were exposed to dust from dried clay and in some cases from ground flints and bone used as clay additives. They developed an inflammation of the lung similar to that of miners with silicosis. POTTS DISEASE - tuberculosis of the spine leading to degeneration of the vertebrae. PROSTITIS - inflammation of the prostate gland. PUERPERAL FEVER - a fever arising after giving birth, also called child bed fever, caused by bacterial infection and commonly fatal. PURPLES - spots of a livid colour, which break out in malignant fevers. PUTRID FEVER - diphtheria PUTRID SORE THROAT - ulceration of an acute form, attacking the tonsils, see also Quinsy. PYREXIA - See dysentery. Q QUINSY - an acute inflammation of the soft palate around the tonsils, often leading to an abscess R REMITTING FEVER - malaria also called the ague. RISING OF THE LIGHTS - croup - any obstructive condition of the larynx or trachea (windpipe), characterised by a hoarse, barking cough and difficult breathing, occurring chiefly in infants and children. RHEUMATISMUS - rheumatism. RUBELLA - German measles. RUBEOLA - Measles S SCARLATINA - Scarlet Fever, a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, which attacks the red blood cells and produces inflammation of the nose, throat and mouth, headache, sickness and red rash. SCREWS - rheumatism SCROFULA - tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands, especially those in the neck. SCURVY - deficiency disease, common on long voyages and characterised by softening of the gums, haemorrhages under the skin and general debility. SHINGLES - a painful skin condition, commonly in older people, caused by the virus that produces chicken pox which can remain dormant in the body for many years. SHIP FEVER - See typhus. SMALLPOX - Also known as variola. A viral infection producing fever and a skin rash followed by pustules which leave permanent scars. The disease was often fatal. SOFTENING OF THE BRAIN - senility or general paralysis of the insane which is tertiary syphilis. Also used for cerebral haemorrhage/stroke. SPLENITITS - inflammation of the spleen. SPOTTED FEVER - could be typhus or meningitis. ST ANTHONY’S FIRE - See erysipelas. ST VITUS DANCE - a twitching of the limbs consequent on streptococcal infections also known as chorea Sancti Viti. STRANGUARY - restricted urine flow. A difficulty of urine attended with pain. This could have included bladder stones. STROPHULUS - prickly heat. SUMMER COMPLAINT - See cholera infantum also dysentery or baby diarrhoea caused by spoiled milk. SUPPURATING - producing pus. SYNOCHUS - fever SYPHILIS - long lasting contagious venereal disease caused by bacterium Treponema pallidum T TABES DORSALIS - tubercular infection of the spine. TABES MESENTERICA - tubercular infection of the lymph glands in the abdomen. TEETHING - Teething infants sometimes suffered infections of the gums as the teeth erupted leading to pain and swelling. If the infection became systemic, it could lead to convulsions, diarrhoea and even death. TETANUS - an infectious, often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which enters the body through wounds. THRUSH - a disease in which there are white spots and ulcers in the mouth, and on the tongue, caused by a parasitic fungus, Candida albicans. There is a similar condition of the vagina. TRENCH FEVER - a louse borne infection characterised by headaches, inflamed eyes, skin rashes and pains in the legs. TUBERCULOSIS - A chronic infectious disease that can affect a variety of organs. The most common variety is pulmonary tuberculosis or consumption, passed on via droplets in coughs and sneezes. Tuberculosis of the lymph glands in the neck was called scrofula or King's Evil. The disease could be contracted through infected milk. TYMPANY - A kind of obstructed flatulence that swells the body like a drum. TYPHOID FEVER - an infectious disease producing intestinal inflammation and ulceration. It was usually encountered in the summer months. TYPHUS - An acute, infectious disease caused by the parasite Rickettsia prowazekii, transmitted by lice and fleas. It is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache and dark red rash. Typhus, because it was flea borne, was often prevalent in the winter months when people were less likely to wash their clothes or indeed themselves. U UNDULANT FEVER - brucellosis, an infectious fever contracted from contaminated milk. V VARICELLA - Chicken pox VARIOLA - See smallpox VENESECTION - bleeding. W WHOOPING COUGH - See chin cough. WHITE LEG - See milk leg. WINTER FEVER - See pneumonia. WOOL SORTER’S DISEASE - anthrax, a disease formerly found in farm animals that could be transmitted to man. WORM FEVER - may have been used to indicate a fever or enteritis during which worms were passed in the faeces. It is given as a cause of death of children in the early 19th century. Page 11 PARISH REGISTERS Parish Registers were first ordered to be kept by Thomas Cromwell, Vicar General for King Henry VIII in 1538. Cromwell ordered that every parish must keep a register and that every Sunday the Parson, in the presence of the wardens, must enter all the baptisms, marriage and burials of the previous week. The register was to be kept in a coffer with two locks. Failure to comply imposed a fine of 3s 4d which was to be spent on the upkeep of the church. This order was received with some suspicion and despite the fine imposed many parishes ignored the order to keep these registers. The order was repeated in 1547 during the reign of Edward VI but this time the fine was to go towards poor relief. In 1563 parliament passed an act which carried more weight. Records were to be kept in 'great decent books of parchment' and copies or 'Bishop's Transcripts' of new entries were to be sent each month to the diocesan centre. Previous entries in paper registers were to be copied into the new books. Paper was at the time much cheaper than parchment (which is made from animal skins) and in many cases loose sheets of paper had been used and unfortunately lost. Over time some paper registers had deteriorated to the point where the registers were unreadable due to homemade ink. Unfortunately the Act stated that the costs involved were to be met by imposing charges for entries. This was strongly opposed by many clergy and the act was not enforced. It was not until the ecclesiastical mandates of 1597 and 1603 that the act was enforced throughout the country. The parish was now to finance the registers and the books were to be kept in a chest with three locks. To ensure that records were kept properly the entries were to be read out each Sunday after evensong. Few of the early paper registers survive and often only the bare essentials were copied. Registers were poorly kept during the English Civil war 1643 1647 and in the commonwealth period which followed it. Many were abandoned or hidden by the clergy and in some cases were lost completely. Registers were returned to churches after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. In 1678 an act was passed making it compulsory for all corpses to be buried in a shroud made of wool only. This was to encourage the wool trade. An affidavit was to be made and recorded that this had been carried out. This was not a popular law since the poor could ill afford the shroud. A separate burial register was enforced from this date. In 1696 an order was passed that a fine of £2 was to be imposed on all who did not report the birth of a child to the vicar within 5 days. Children who were not christened were to pay a tax of 6d to the vicar. Vicars who failed to record a birth were to be fined £2 for neglect. This highly unpopular tax was not abandoned until 1706 when it was realised that enforcing the penalties would ruin many clergy. In 1711 an order was made that parish registers should be ruled and that pages should be numbered but once again this order was generally ignored. 1733 a law was passed forbidding the use of Latin in parish registers. 1751 was the year the calendar was reformed. Prior to this, the year commenced on Lady Day - 25th of March. So, in previous registers, December 31st 1750 would have been followed by January 1st 1750 and not 1751 as it would today. 1754 - Lord Hardwick's Marriage Act. This Act enforced a separate marriage register which was later pre-printed and had spaces for witnesses, the signature of the bride and groom, the condition and parish of the bride and groom and the signature of the minister. It also enforced banns and made clandestine marriages illegal. Clandestine marriages were legally binding unions in which the couple had not completely followed the rules set by canon law. The Anglican Church required that the prospective union be announced by either the posting of banns for three weeks before the intended ceremony or the issuance of a marriage license. The ceremony itself had to take place within the parish of one of the candidates between the hours of 8 am and noon and abide by the service listed in the Book of Common Prayer. Clandestine marriages were often performed by clergymen who did not have an official position, in parishes other than those of the couple, or in such diverse locales as taverns, prisons, or even brothels. So long as the couple freely consented to the marriage, the service was read out of the Book of Common Prayer, and there were no legal impediments such as consanguinity, the union was considered valid and was recognized by both the Church and the state. However, because these ceremonies were very difficult to regulate, a shady subculture surrounded clandestine marriages causing objection from the Church and the legal establishment. 1763 the minimum age of marriage was fixed at 16. Prior to this date, the church accepted the marriage of girls aged 12 or more and boys aged 14 or more. In addition, a dispensation on licence could be obtained from a bishop which allowed marriage at a younger age. From 1763 a person below the age of 21 required the consent of parents to be married in England. An example of an early age marriage is this one from Burnley parish in Lancashire: A stamp duty of 3d was placed on all entries and registers causing many families not to have children baptised. Paupers were exempt. Many entries of 'pauper' were made by the minister when parents would not pay. The duty was repealed in 1794. 1812 Rose's Act - New printed baptism, marriage and burial registers were to be used by all parishes with separate volumes for each. The marriage register remained unchanged. 1853 Cemetery Act - By 1853, many churchyards were over crowded and an act of parliament was passed, which allowed towns to open cemeteries. Early parish burial records contain only the most basic information. "John Smith was buried the 21st day" "Charles the son of John Smith was buried the 10th day" "The wife of John Smith was buried the 8th day" "Widow Smith was buried the 1st day" Frustratingly the wife's name was often not considered important enough to be mentioned. However by the early 1800s registers began to include the wife's name. "Mary the wife of John Smith was buried" "Mary, the widdow of John Smith was buried" "Sarah, the daughter of John Smith and Mary (his wife) was buried" Unfortunately with all parish registers you are at the mercy of the clergy as to how the information was recorded. Occasionally you may be lucky to find the occupation and/or age of the person stated. It is also sometimes possible to find a cause of death stated, particularly if it was a result of plague. Burial registers from 1813 contained more information. Normally the name of the person is recorded, sometimes with the name of the township or hamlet and occasionally the name of the place of residence. The age of the deceased is given in some parishes during certain periods, especially in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. From 1813 onwards the age at death was part of the required details in burial entries. What Was the Cause of Death? As you will have noticed reading through the list of illnesses on the previous pages, medical technology and terminology has certainly changed over the decades and centuries. Most of us know that consumption was an earlier name for tuberculosis, and that palsy referred to a paralysis or a loss of muscle control. However, older medical terms and alternative folk names for illnesses can cause some problems. Decrepitude - Feebleness due to old age Dentition - Cutting of teeth Dry Bellyache - Lead poisoning Flux of humour - Circulation. But sometimes other illness are hard to imagine. In 1887 one Page 12 Henry Phillipps died from a bible blister. This was a cyst or ganglia usually at the wrist. This cyst would be full of fluid. The common practice was to take the family Bible, place your hand on the table and give the cyst a thump with the bible. Henry Phillipps should not have died from having a cyst hit by a bible so they must have been some other underlying cause. Sarah Tait died in 1854 and her burial record shows her cause of death as Mad Hatter's disease. This was the name given to an ailment caused by mercury poisoning causing a plethora of physical and psychiatric complaints. The term "Mad Hatter" is from the character in Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland." The character was based on the English felt and hat makers who used mercury in processing the animal skins and went insane because of it. Matthew Forbes died from a Rose cold in 1803. This was the name given to Hay fever or nasal symptoms of an allergy. While we don’t usually associate Hay fever with death it may be possible that Matthew died of an asthma attack or some other similar breathing problem. The Victorian period was a time of limited diet and fairly basic sanitary conditions for the poorer families. In these conditions the health of the children was often under threat from diseases and infections. One of the things which crops up regularly in the school registers is the occurrence of illnesses of many kinds. Like diphtheria and scarlet fever, measles is easily treated by modern drugs today, but in Victorian times they were all serious illnesses and children could die from these ailments. Epidemics of scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria and whooping cough were very common and schools were often closed for weeks or even months. Many illnesses could spread very quickly, and children who had illness in the family were often banned from school. Although infant mortality decreased and the life expectancy increased during the Victorian era, both measurements indicate terrifying rates. Babies were susceptible to disease, infections, and mistreatment. The public was susceptible to a wide array of disease, not to mention malnutrition and inhuman working conditions. During the middle of the Victorian age, rural people lived longer than city dwellers, the rich lived longer than the poor, and men lived longer than women. Women died younger not only due to childbirth; women suffered from inactivity and from inferior food consumption. It was also primarily women who were responsible for nursing the sick; which inevitably led to their own sickness. Society had delicate expectations for women, and as a result, it was not ladylike to have a hearty appetite or abundant energy. Customarily the finest food was given to the men and boys of the family. In the lower classes, both men and women were debilitated by the age of forty. Long hours, poor nutrition, and premature full-time employment all contributed to a short life expectancy. Life span slowly increased within the Victorian age, as treatment became more advanced, surgery more effective, and knowledge more extensive. The average life span in 1840, in the Whitechapel district of London, was 45 years for the upper class and 27 years for tradesmen. Labourers and servants lived only 22 years on average. Occupations Most of the occupations on the previous pages are usually self explanatory. However sometimes it is hard to work out exactly what was the occupations. The following occupations were all extracted from Wills between 1783 and 1875. Beildsman - Licensed beggar Biddy - A female servant usually of Irish stock Blockmaker - One who crafted pulleys Garlekmonger - Dealer in garlic Hetheleder - Provider of heather for fuel Lorimer - Bridlemaker Perukemaker - Wigmaker Pictor - Painter Simpler - Agriculturist that we would call herbalist today Sprigger - Embroiderer of fine lace and muslin Sutor - Shoemaker or cobbler The website Findmypast.com has searched through the census records and found some very unusual occupations which have cropped up over the decades. Some may very well be transcription errors or that the enumerator misheard. Either way they make for interesting reading. Ale Wife Alley Girl Allsorts Stripper Ankle Beater Ashbank Fairy Baby Farmer Back Washer Belly Builder Bottom Knocker Butty Can Dodger Donkey Boy Donkey Maker Dribble Dripping Man Dung Boy Elephants Teeth Dealer Fang Manager Fat Lad Flasher Floater Fluttergrub Hocus Pocus Man Hooker Jack About Kisser Knacker Mondayman Monthly Nurse Morning Girl Mugger Necessary Woman Night Soilman Nipper Now Now Pigman Pit Brow Lass Pom Pom Man Potato Badger Punty Sticker Ransacker Slapper Stripper Tiring Boy Toe Rag Tweennie Up And Down Man UNUSUAL OCCUPATIONS - GRAVE ROBBERS I don't know that you'd ever find this on a census or a legal document but some people were resurrectionists in the early 1800's. Resurrectionists were grave robbers who dug up fresh corpses and sold them to be used in anatomy lectures in medical schools. They are better known as body snatchers. In the 19th century, medical colleges used human bodies for anatomy demonstrations. Most of them used bodies of executed criminals or, rarely, donated ones. However, shortage of bodies sometimes made the teachers buy corpses from shady underworld characters. They ignored their possible misgivings because they wanted to satisfy the curiosity of their students. The most famous body snatchers are William Burke and William Hare. Burke and Hare were Irish immigrants who settled in Edinburgh. When one of Hare’s lodgers died, owing him money, Burke and Hare sold the body to assistants of Dr. Robert Knox, an eminent surgeon, for use in dissection. The two would dig up the graves of the recently departed in the dead of night, steal the body and then sell it for cash to a doctor for use during anatomy demonstrations. They then decided there was no need to go digging. The two entrepreneurs started murdering people in Edinburgh's old town and selling the bodies to the medical schools on an 'ask no questions basis.' The murder of their sixteenth victim led to their arrest, along with Burke's mistress and Hare's wife, yet the courts had little evidence with which to conduct a successful prosecution. Hare was offered immunity from prosecution if he would turn King's evidence. Burke was found guilty on only one account of murder. The charge against Burke’s mistress was found ‘not proven’, and she was acquitted. Burke was hanged on January 29th 1829 in front of enormous crowds. Hare tried to get away from Edinburgh to start anew, but the scandal ensured that he was faced with angry mobs everywhere he went. He was in Carlisle in 1829, but his fate thereafter is unknown, although there are reports of him being sighted as a blind beggar in London and that he died a penniless pauper in London in 1859, while Robert Knox - the doctor who bought most of Burke and Hare's bodies so willingly - was never prosecuted. However his career did suffer even though he claimed to have had no knowledge that the bodies supplied to him might have been murdered. He was eventually forced to move south and work in London. Burke’s body was used as an example for dissection, his skeleton still being preserved in the Anatomy Museum at Edinburgh University Medical School. Page 13 COMMON ABBREVIATIONS FOUND IN RECORDS USED BY GENEALOGISTS a. a.a.r. ab. Abp. abr. abt. AC accu. ackd. Ad AdCl AdD AdS AD aft. a.k.a. a.l.s. als. anc. anon. Ap APG approx. apptd. appx. arr. b. ba. bach. bap or bapt. b.d. bef. bet. b.o.t.p. bp. bpl. bpt. B.T. bur. / bu c. or ca cem. cen. or cens. cert. ch/o chr. cous. d. dau. dec desc. d. & h. d/o do. dpl. dsct. d.s.p. - about, age, acre, ante, aunt - against all risks - abbey - Archbishop - abridged; abridgment - about - ancestor chart - accurate - acknowledged - adopted - adopted child - adopted daughter, etc. - adopted son - [Latin] Anno Domini - after - also known as - autographed letter signed - alias - ancestry; ancestor; ancient - anonymous - apprentice - Association of Professional Genealogists - approximately - appointed - appendix - arrived - born - bachelor - bachelor - baptised; baptism - birth date - before - between - both of this parish - baptised; birthplace - birthplace - baptised - Bishop's Transcripts - buried - circa (about) - cemetery - census - certificate - child of - christened - cousin - died; death - daughter - deceased - descendant - daughter and heiress - daughter of - ditto - death place - descendant - [Latin] descessit sine parole; died without issue d.s.p.m. - [Latin] descessit sine parole mascula; died without male issue dum. or d. um. - died unmarried d.y. - died young E.D. - Enumeration District f. - female fa. - father FHC - Family History Center FHL - Family History Library FR - Family Registry FRC - Premises and library for NZSG g. - grand; great GA GD gdn. GEDCOM GF GGF gm. GGM HMS hus. IGI inf. k. kn. LDS m. m/1, m/2 mat. MIA mors. na. n.d. neph. Ni nm. nmed. n.p. n.x.n. NZSG obit. o.p. orig. o.t.p. Pa p.r. PRO Pu rec. reg. Reg. Gen. rel. s. s. and h. Sb Scl Sf Sm s/o s.p. s.p.l. s.p.m. Ss transcr. transl. U unm. v.a. w. wd. w/o ww. ww/o wwr. y. Yr. Page 14 - great aunt - granddaughter - guardian - GEnealogical Data COMmunication - grandfather - great-grandfather - grandmother - great-grandmother - Her (or His) Majesty's Service or Ship - husband - International Genealogical Index - infant - killed - known - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - married - married first, married second, etc. - maternal - Missing in Action - death; corpse - naturalized - no date - nephew - niece - name - named - no place - no christian name - New Zealand Society of Genealogists - obituary - out of print - origin; original - of this parish - partner - parish record - Public Record Office - pupil - record - register - Registrar General - relative - son(s) - son and heir - stepbrother - step child - stepfather - stepmother - son of - [Latin] sine parole; without offspring - [Latin] sine parole legitima; without legitimate offspring - [Latin] sine parole mascula; without male offspring - stepson - transcribed - translation - uncle - unmarried - [Latin] vixit annos; (s)he lived (a certain number) years - wife - widow - wife of - widow - widow of - widower - year - younger KELSO Kelso is a small settlement in West Otago, located ten kilometres north of Tapanui on the Kelso River, close to its junction with the larger Pomahaka River. The township was first surveyed in 1875, and the first settlement began the following year. It was named Kelso after the Scottish town of Kelso which was home to one of the town's first settlers, James Logan. The town was linked by rail in 1878 with the construction of a Tapanui Waipahi line. There was a passenger service until 1934 and a goods service until 1954. The Railway Hotel opened in 1881. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1888 and a Congregational church also flourished in the town. A flour mill operated from 1881 to 1889 and was then used as a rabbit canning factory until 1894. The township was frequently subject to flooding, notably in 1903, 1913 and 1917. it was inundated with flood water during two major floods of the Clutha River catchment in 1978 and 1980, and after the latter flood it was decided to relocate the settlement. Today, little remains to indicate the location of Kelso, other than a stone memorial and faded wording referring to the township on several remaining buildings. If you are interested in reading more about Kelso I recommend reading an article in the Otago Daily Times newspaper, 31 May 2008 page 19 entitled "In memory of a town that drowned." A FAMOUS INCIDENT IN THE TOWN The town had been made famous by the phantom “Kelso Airship” which is still the subject of discussion whenever the subject emerges of flying saucers appearing around New Zealand. The episode began on the evening of 11 July 1909 when, according to the Otago Daily Times newspaper, several Kaitangata residents reported observing, for about thirty minutes, mysterious lights resembling a possible airship bobbing in and out of view to the east over the Wangaloa Hills. The Evening Star newspaper reported that the German vessel Seestern, which had recently left Australia bound for New Zealand, had launched the Zeppelin from its deck to spy on the countryside and then return to the ship. By the last week in July, a massive outbreak of sightings occurred from one end of the country to the other. The most spectacular incident took place on Friday 23 July in broad daylight at Kelso, where 23 schoolchildren and an adult described a Zeppelin-type airship swooping low over the township. Several drawings done by the pupils appeared in the local newspapers. One drawing done by a pupil, Thomas Jenkins, consisted of a long cigar-shaped body, a suspended gondola underneath, and two large sail-like wings. He also said the propeller-like wheel at the back was revolving rapidly. Further information on these sightings can be read in the following newspapers: Evening Star, 29 July, 1909, page 4; Otago Daily Times, 29 July 29, 1909, page 7 and Auckland Weekly ews, 5 August, 1909, page 21. Kelso has an interesting 1865-1980 monument marking the record heights of floods in the town. The 1978 flood, known as the ‘100 year flood’ was to be followed by another in 1980. This later flood was much worse than that of 1978 and was the demise of the township. The above map shows Kelso’s location to neighbouring Glenkenich, Tapanui, Heriot and Crookston. KELSO SCHOOL Otago Witness, 29 April 1882, Page 13 The Kelso school opened in 1882. The one roomed school and teacher’s house cost £400 to build. It was replaced by a new school in 1952 which cost £13,000. Several school reunions have been held. The first reunion was in 1932 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the school. Further reunions have been held in 1952 (70th), 1962 (80th), 1972 (90th). However the school did not remain open for its 100th anniversary. It closed in 1980 following a series of devastating floods in the area. Despite the closure a final reunion was held in 1982. The school building was dismantled and taken to Heriot in 1983. Only the old oak tree planted by school children to mark peace in 1919, following World War One, has survived to mark the spot where the school once stood. The Kelso School was consolidated with Tapanui and Heriot Schools. The Hocken Collections in Dunedin hold the Kelso school records for 1954-1982. The Hocken Collections also holds the Kelso School history file 1882-1982 which includes history cards, historical notes, newspaper clippings, notices regarding school closure and photographs of school buildings. Neighbouring Glenkenich School opened in 1877 and was consolidated with Kelso school in 1948. Its records from 1896 - 1949 are in the Hocken Collections. The oldest photograph in existence of the school. The photograph is dated 1890. The two teachers in the photograph are Mr A. S. Malcolm (standing second row with hat on) and Miss Harland (seated in the front row). Page 15 KELSO SCHOOL ROLL 1882-1900 The year indicates the first time the pupil attended the school. Some pupils had broken attendance. ADAMS ADAMS AITCHISON AM-GOW BALNEAVES BALNEAVES BARR BARTON BARTON BARTON BEGGS BEGGS BEGGS BEGGS BEGGS BEGGS BENFELL BENFELL BEWS BRAND BRAND BRAND BRAND BRAND BRAND BRAND BROOK BROOK BUCHANAN BUCHANAN BUCHANAN BUCHANAN BUCHANAN BUTCHART BUTCHART CHANDLER CHANDLER CHANDLER CLARKE CLARKE CLOUSTON CLOUSTON CLOUSTON CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRAWFORD CRISP CRISP CRISP CRISP CRISP CRISP CRUICKSHANK CRUICKSHANK CRUICKSHANK CRUICKSHANK CRUICKSHANK DARRELL DOAKE DOAKE DOAKE DOCHERTY DOCHERTY DOCHERTY DUNNET DUNNET DUNNET DUNNET DUNNET DUNNET EDGAR EDGAR Charles Walter Vera George Amy Jessie Bella Oke Una Vivian Hugh John Peter Rosina Sarah Thomas Edward William John Annie Ellen George John Lizzie Maggie Peter Alice Lilly Constance David Ernest Frank Thomas Alice Mary Annie Henry Sophie Donald Isabella James Louise Maggie Daisy Fanny Florence Lucy Maggie May Rebecca Rose Wallace Charles Elizabeth Euphemia Julia Louisa Martha Adam Allen Charlotte Oliver William Walter David Eliza Ellen Daniel Hannah John Albert Bella Charles John Margaret William Agnes Vincent 1892 1892 1900 1894 1894 1894 1890 1898 1898 1900 1883 1883 1883 1883 1883 1883 1896 1891 1883 1884 1882 1882 1882 1886 1882 1883 1882 1882 1890 1888 1896 1888 1888 1882 1882 1885 1885 1885 1887 1884 1899 1899 1882 1899 1895 1898 1891 1893 1894 1895 1893 1898 1894 1891 1896 1893 1888 1888 1896 1900 1896 1898 1896 1892 1896 1894 1888 1885 1885 1886 1882 1886 1888 1884 1896 1882 1900 1900 FALCONER FAULKNER FAULKNER FERGUSON FERGUSON FERGUSON FINLAY GIBSON GOODWIN GOODWIN GOODWIN GREEN GUINAN GUINAN GUINAN GUINAN HAGEN HAGEN HAGEN HAGEN HAGEN HAGEN HAGEN HANSEN HANSEN HANSEN HANSEN HANSEN HANSEN HANSEN HANSEN HANSEN HARKER HARKER HARLAND HENDERSON HENDERSON HENDERSON HENDERSON HERBERT HERBERT HERBERT HERBERT HERBERT HERBERT HERBERT HOOKER HOOKER HOUNSON HUNTER HUTTON JENKINS KERNOHAN KERNOHAN KERR KERR KING KING KITCHING KNIGHT LAY LAY LAY LAY LAY LAY LAY LAY LAY LAY LAY LEASK LEASK LEASK LOGAN LOGAN LOGAN MALCOLM MATHESON MATHESON McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD Thomas Alice Flora Ernest Frances James Robert Annie Edward Emma George Bessie Christopher Edwin James May Isabella John Maggie Samuel Sarah Thomas Wilson Ann Annie Charles Ethel John Lily Louisa Margaret Mary Margaret Simon Ada Alex. J. Annie George Helen Agnes Alfred Arthur Francis Frank James William Maria Rose Mabel Christina Annie John Maxwell Nell Elizabeth John Tasman William John George Annie Beatrice Benjamin Charles Ellen James Maria Olive Oliver Sarah Zetta Annie Robert Samuel Annie James Lily Robina Annabel Maryann Agnes Alexander Angusina Page 16 1900 1887 1887 1899 1899 1899 1892 1899 1885 1882 1882 1887 1892 1899 1893 1896 1889 1882 1882 1883 1887 1882 1882 1882 1886 1890 1900 1882 1882 1882 1884 1888 1883 1882 1896 1888 1888 1888 1888 1882 1882 1896 1882 1890 1895 1882 1884 1887 1900 1884 1895 1883 1895 1894 1898 1898 1882 1882 1899 1892 1882 1883 1891 1882 1882 1888 1889 1897 1890 1888 1894 1883 1884 1887 1883 1882 1883 1899 1899 1899 1898 1898 1892 McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD McGREGOR McGREGOR McGREGOR McGREGOR McGREGOR McGREGOR McHARRY McKENZIE McKENZIE McKENZIE McLEAN McLEAN McLEAN McLEAN McPHEE McPHEE McPHEE McPHERSON McPHERSON McPHERSON McPHERSON McPHERSON McRAE McRAE McRAE McRAE McRAE McRAE McRAE MILLER MILMINE MOIR MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY NICHOLSON NICHOLSON PARGITER PATON PATON PATON PATON PATON PATON PATON PATON PECK PECK PEMBERTON PEMBERTON REID REID REID RENTOUL RENTOUL RENTOUL RENTOUL RENTOUL RICHARDS RICHARDS RIDDELL RIDDELL RIDDELL RIDDELL RIDDELL RISK RISK RISK RISK RISK RISK Annie Archie Bella Christina Donald John John Margaret Mary Robert Sarah Thomas Alexander Annie Bella Jane Maryann Wilhelmina James Donald Kenneth W. Alex Archibald Charles John Robert Annie Euphemia Johanna Archibald Barbara Donald Elizabeth William Albert Colina Duncan Isabella Jessie John Mabel Arthur Violet James James Robert William Robina William Margaret Annie Effie George James Jane Mary Robert Agnes Lilly William Jane Leslie Jane Jessie William Jessie John Laurence Mary Peter George William Annie James Jane John William Charles David Florence George Robert William 1883 1894 1892 1882 1887 1889 1892 1891 1886 1891 1891 1900 1884 1888 1890 1884 1884 1884 1884 1882 1883 1883 1891 1898 1898 1895 1883 1882 1882 1883 1883 1883 1883 1883 1888 1882 1884 1882 1891 1882 1898 1889 1894 1884 1886 1882 1890 1891 1891 1897 1882 1891 1887 1895 1882 1882 1889 1885 1883 1883 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900 1888 1890 1900 1888 1890 1892 1890 1895 1892 1892 1892 1892 1896 1891 1900 1896 1898 1893