In this context 'stand' meant that the Father wanted to be able to pay his son's way until he, the son, found work, the extra pound would have helped immensely in being able to 'stand' him without either of them going short. It is also an expression used by a group of blokes going to the pub, they then decide to 'stand' a round of drinks each....means each bloke pays for a round of drinks for all the others in the group, he in turn gets a drink from each of the others in the group when their turn comes to 'stand' their rounds. Yes, it is also used as a term in shearing sheds the number of shearers employed is determined by the number of 'stands' of shearing equipment there is in the shed, could be one or it could be 20 depending on the size of the shed to be used! Hope that helps, Sincerely, S.JEFFERY ,----- Original Message ----- From: "Karen" <karens@optushome.com.au> To: <AUS-NSW-WEST-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:04 PM Subject: [NSW-W] Terminology - whats a stand? > In our family research we have uncovered a letter written by my grandfather > to his son in Queensland. > My grandfather lived and worked on properties in and around Nyngan from 1892 > until 1930. > In the letter he mentions the need to "stand" one of his sons to get work. > Does anyone know what a stand was / is? > It sounds like some sort of surety? bond? or maybe to purchase gear to work? > The actual wording is........ > "Tomy is not doing anything at all, I have no money to stand him again, if I > could get one pound it would do to make another stand" > To put it into context - they had come from Nyngan to Sydney as there was > obviously no work in Nyngan for them. This was June 1930, the middle of the > depression and they had no money, the only person in the family working was > a 12 year old son who was earning a "few bob a day" In the letter they are > making plans for the older boys to make their way to Bendigo to look for > gold. It never happened, my grandfather died a few months after the letter > was written and Tomy was killed in a horse accident 6 months later. > Any thoughts? > > Many thanks > Karen > > ______________________________