Issue 20 Cover

Discover Your Ancestors

Issue 020

Issue 20 Cover

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Welcome to Discover Your Ancestors Periodical, your monthly mixture of fascinating family and social history. With this issue I’m delighted to announce that we’ve grown in size, so from now on can bring you even more, exclusive content in every issue. If your subscription is about to lapse, you can also benefit from renewing at the old price. We’re also planning Issue 4 of our printed edition, which will come out in February. Look out for more details next time, but that too will be bigger and better than ever!

Meanwhile, this issue covers a lot of ground. We have more case studies on how online WW1 records can help find out a great deal about your ancestors who served. With Christmas looming, we jump in the time machine to see what the festival was like for those in workhouses and asylums. And you can continue the festive mood with a visit to a Georgian alehouse, inn or tavern.

Plus there’s everything from witchcraft to law – if there’s a difference. Enjoy the issue!

Andrew Chapman, Editor.

Articles

Called to the bar

Called to the bar

Drinking was a hugely popular pastime for the inhabitants of Georgian England. For at least two centuries, three distinct types of public drinking places had been established: the alehouse, the inn and the tavern. Each of these ancient institutions was licensed differently, sold different drinks and catered to their own specific clientele.

Mentioned in Dispatches

Mentioned in Dispatches

TheGenealogist.co.uk has released more than 81,000 records of people Mentioned in Dispatches in World War One. With this collection you can find soldiers and army nurses that had come to the notice of their superior officers for an act of gallantry, or meritorious action, in the face of the enemy. The service person’s name would have appeared in an official report, written by a superior officer and then sent on to the high command.

December 2014's News

December 2014's News

The Surname Society is a new online society for individuals, groups and associations with an interest in surname studies, regardless of their location in the world, the surname they are studying, or their level of research expertise. Focusing on single surname studies, the society meets the needs of researchers in the world of family history and genealogy as it evolves in the 21st century. The Surname Society’s vision is to connect likeminded people by providing facilities which enable members to share knowledge, data and good practice with others. The society allows members to register both worldwide and limited studies and is entirely online. Collaboration is facilitated and encouraged as it is the core ethos of the society.

Having the last word...

Having the last word...

British churchyards are part of the nation’s priceless and unique heritage. Combining a rich and often untapped source of artistic language with local materials and craftsmanship, there is a vast range of memorials, the like of which cannot be found in any other country across the world.

The Toughest Scrum

The Toughest Scrum

“His voice could be heard from the other parts of the field, shouting out ‘Come on, the Durhams” – De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour Ihave the privilege of looking after the archives at my local rugby union club (Sunderland RFC, founded in 1873). Among the records is a list of those who played for the 1st XV in the season before World War One, ie 1913/14. Their names appear in a club history published in the 1960s as well as a roll of honour for those who lost their lives and another list of those who won awards and decorations. In September 1914, a meeting was held at the club to wish good luck to those who were off to war and their details were entered in a minute book which still survives. At a later date, rank and regiment was added, allowing me to note basic military details for 12 of the 15 players in the side. By adding information from the 1960s club history I was able to come up with the following:

Christmas Behind Locked Doors

Christmas Behind Locked Doors

If you could travel back in time, where would you least like to spend Christmas day? How about inside a Victorian asylum? It sounds like something a long way from the cosy Dickensian Christmas that we assume the rest of Britain was enjoying. But what was a Victorian Christmas really like, and was Christmas in the asylum really so much worse than on the outside?

The cunning folk

The cunning folk

Medieval folk had long believed that the Devil was carrying out his evil work on earth with the help of his minions, and in 1484 Pope Innocent VIII declared this to be the truth in his papal bull Summis Desiderantes, which promoted the tracking down, torturing and executing of Satan worshippers.

Lore of the Lawyers

Lore of the Lawyers

The earliest lawyers - in the sense of people who helped others to seek justice - can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. However, in ancient Greek society, people accused of a crime had to plead their own cases and could not pay others to do this for them. Likewise, Greek lawyers (or orators, as they were known - men trained in the art of rhetoric) could not accept payment. Although many seem to have turned a blind eye to these rules, they still existed, and could be enforced. In ancient Rome these orators (also called advocates) were allowed to act on behalf of others, although initially a fee could not be paid to them. This ban was partially overturned by the Roman Emperor Claudius, who limited the fee that could be paid. These changes allowed legal specialists called jurisconsults also to develop in Rome. Claudius’ legalisation and subsequent regulation of the profession also allowed the Roman legal system to develop.

history in the details: scarves & mufflers

history in the details: scarves & mufflers

As a length of fabric worn around the neck, the scarf has a long history, although its usage has varied with the time and place, some types being known by different names. Scarves reputedly originated in Ancient Rome, when a linen sudarium or ‘sweat cloth’, wound around the neck or knotted onto a belt, was used by men to mop the perspiration from their neck and face. Long scarves or stoles were subsequently adopted by ladies, their versatile, draping qualities ensuring that they remained fashionable down the centuries. By the 1600s Croatian mercenaries were wearing cotton scarves (silk for officers); eventually gaining favour throughout Europe, this male accessory was called a ‘cravat’, after Croatian kravata.

Place in Focus: Cambridge

Place in Focus: Cambridge

Famous for its university, the city of Cambridge (although it only became a city officially in 1951 as it does not have a cathedral) has its roots in prehistoric times. The Saxons named it Grantabrycge ('Bridge over the river Granta’). Under Viking rule it became an important trading centre. When the Saxons returned, they built churches such as St Benet’s Church (the city’s oldest surviving building), wharves, merchant houses and a mint. In 1068, William of Normandy built a castle in the city.

December 2014's books

December 2014's books

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 is a story of intrigue, plot and counter-plot, religious rivalry and nationalist fervour. It tells of the stubborn and bigoted king, James II, in conflict with his subjects – a conflict in which he was finally forced to put aside his crown, making way for his daughter, Mary, and her husband William of Orange. Less than 30 years after Charles II had been restored to the throne, a king was once more deposed (although this time with rather less bloodshed),effectively creating the form of government that we have today. After the Revolution it was no longer possible for British monarchs to ride roughshod over the wishes of their people or to impose religion upon them. Yet, as well as creating a constitutional monarchy, the Revolution also led in time to such events as the Jacobite Rebellions in Scotland and the Orange Order marches in Northern Ireland. This book tells the story of those momentous days and sets them against the turbulent backdrop of 17th life.

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Discover Your Ancestors – The Family History Show

The Family History Show, York!

Saturday 22nd June 2024
10:00 –16:00 (GMT)

Put your research questions to an expert, watch a talk, speak to a local society, archive or genealogical supplier.

Free talks all day, held in a large lecture hall.
Free Experts on hand to help with your queries.
Many family history societies, archives and companies will be attending from all over the country.

Special Offer! Buy tickets for £8.00 (£12.00 on the day)

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Discover Your Ancestors Periodical is published by Discover Your Ancestors Publishing, UK. All rights in the material belong to Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and may not be reproduced, whether in whole or in part, without their prior written consent. The publisher makes every effort to ensure the magazine's contents are correct. All articles are copyright© of Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. Please refer to full Terms and Conditions at www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk. The editors and publishers of this publication give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised.