I'm having one fitted next week so will let you know after that... :-0 Kevin. ----- Original Message ----- From: "BARRY HARRISON" <bharrison11@ROGERS.com> To: <BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 3:26 AM Subject: [BKM] Information about lace makers >I have a Sarah Hawkins (Widowed) who was listed in the 1841 Wooburn Green, >Bucks census as lace makers. Also, I have her son Charles, listed as a >paper maker. Would anyone be able to give me a bit of information about the >lace makers and/or paper makers and their work in Bucks? > Thank you for your help. > B. Harrison, Canada > > Kirsten Friis Holm Hawkes <kirstenh@iprimus.com.au> wrote: > This was from John Harris in 2000. Good info about Straw Plaiters! > Kind regards > Kirsten > > > > >> In the 1881 census one of my relatives was listed as a straw platter >> Does anyone know more about what this occupation involved? > > In brief Julie, yes -- 'cos over t'other side of the River Ouse have these > census entries on some rellies: > Sarah Neal Straw plaiter Leighton Buzzard 1871; > Ann Proctor Straw plaiter Billington 1861, 1871, 1881; > Eliza Kiteley Straw Plaiter Leighton Buzzard 1851. > > and while the example below is from Bedfordshire, by and large, the work > and related conditions would have been fairly similar over your rellie's > way > in Buckinghamshire. Details such as where and how the straw plait was sold > and how the styles of weave may well have differed, yes, but the cottage > industry nature of the occupation would have been virtually identical. > > OK so what did I find out about their work? -- or to put it another way to > answer your question what was involved in their straw plaiting occupation? > > What follows is based on an extract from the family history I'm putting > together. It should answer most of your questions. > > In Bedfordshire one girl in three was employed as a straw plaiter. In > Bedfordshire 30% of girls between 10 and 15 were down as straw plaiters in > the 1871 census. Many children started work at an early age, some > youngsters the censuses list were as young as five. In 1861 when their > father, a railway labourer, was away, the Proctor family in Billington are > shown as being all straw plaiters. As well as Ann their mother (listed > above) the enumerator included Ann 10, Catherine 7, and young John 7. In > 1867 the Factory and Workshops Regulation Act made the minimum age eight. > In > 1878 this was raised to ten (though often ignored). > > In the mid 19C straw plait was in great demand for hats. These were made > in > Luton. In the 1870s the peak had been reached. Changes in fashion in > favour > of smaller straw hats and bonnets for women tipped the industry into > decline: as you will see, by 1900 Chinese and Italian imports of a cheaper > but higher quality straw plait had all but eliminated the cottage > industry - > much as lace-making, button-making, glover-making and chair-making were > likewise to be overtaken by their manufactured, machine made counterparts. > > Wives and children of agricultural labourers provided much of the work > force > for the straw plaiting industry. In 1860 an official report noted that a > 'well ordered' family engaged in plaiting could 'obtain as much or more > than > the husband who was at work on a neighbouring farm'. > > Workers were exploited and the industry dominated by the employment of > women > and children. The child plaiter normally learnt the basic skills of the > craft at home from his or her mother before being sent 'usually at four > years old, some at three and half' to "plait school" at a cost a few > pennies, usually two or three pence a week. Plait school was little more > than a child-minding business run in a local cottage that exploited the > children at the menial tasks of preparing the straw. Often some of the > mistress 'teachers' were unable to plait nor teach plaiting themselves. > Their sole job was to keep the children working as hard as possible and > slaps and canings were regarded as a normal part of the disciplinary > process. > > The materials, the bundles of split and bleached or dyed straw was > supplied > by the parents who bought them from the dealers - and it was the parents > who > arranged for the sale of the plaits their children made. To make the > material local wheat straw was split by a special tool, cut into 9" > lengths, > made into bundles, bleached to a an off-white, pale yellow with sulphur > smoke ----- and then to make it pliable, it was moistened just before use. > The best straw for was grown in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and > Hertfordshire. > > In a village like Billington almost all the women and children were > engaged > in straw plaiting in the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s. Gathered in small > huddles > in their cottages, each carried a bunch of splints under the left arm, > pushed close up to the armpit, the elbow having to be kept fairly close to > the body > to keep the bundle in place. Starting a plait was tricky, but once > started, experienced hands moved their fingers quickly, turning 'splints', > over and under, with a moments pause now and again to 'set in' a new > splint. > So the rhythm went relentlessly on. It was hard grinding graft. > > Colours and movements depended on the pattern being made. Every now and > then > the straw plaiter would have to align two splints and she would do this by > passing them between the lips to moisten them before laying them flat > again. > If they were careless, the sharp edge of the straw could cut the lip or > tongue. Children when they were still learning often cut themselves this > way until they learnt the knack better. Having their mouths full of > splints > did not debar them from talking nor from the pleasure of joining in a > little > gossip since all her companions would also be her friends. > > Older children were expected to produce about thirty yards of plait a day. > Those more skilled could do more, especially if they had more simple > patterns. But those that failed to reach their target might be kept at > work > until their fingers became quite sore and bleeding with the effort 'to get > the required yards of plait finished'. Several varieties were woven - > plain, single-plait, pearl, bird's-eye and whipcord to name but a few. > More > intricate plaits could command as much as 2s 6d a yard when trade was > good, > The most proficient plaiters might produce as many as four hundred yards > of > the simpler patterns a week. To do this much women had to sit in bed at > four o'clock on a summer morning and plait for an hour or two before > rising. > > In winter, plaiting continued in the dim light of candles - and was hard > on > their eyesight. Plaiters, usually in family or kinship groups huddled > together in the one living room of their cottage -- and under their heavy > skirts an earthenware pot of coals glowed to provide warmth. > > In 1863 a twelve year old girl from nearby Eaton Bray, where Ann Proctor's > parents were born described a typical working day to officials: > > "At the plait school that I am now at I go only from 8 till 12, and from 1 > till 4" , but mother sets me the same to do as I did at school where I > stayed till 9 o'clock, viz thirty yards, ten in each of the three school > times ... We sit very screwed at school. Get 10d a score, and dare say I > clear about 5s a week after paying fro straw. Have two sisters younger and > a brother older than I am who plait. He goes to the writing school in the > day, and does ten yards afterwards, which takes him till 10 o'clock at > night. There are I think, seven plait schools in the village, three of > them > large. All but three of them have night schools, one till 8 the others > till > 9, and their hours in the day are the same as where I am. Was never at > reading school. Can read the Testament but not without the spelling." > > All too often infringements of the Factory Acts were common. Children > would > slip out of the back when anyone official called - which was rare - while > the number plaiting at home was too great to be dealt with by the police. > When caught plait school mistresses often had fines paid by a farmer since > this enabled him to pay lower wages to his labourers. It followed that > attendance of these children at school was very low and very difficult to > enforce. Only with decline of the plait industry was this problem solved. > > Sales would take place either at one of the special weekly plait markets > held at Luton or to itinerant or local dealers who were often also > shop-keepers. Often plait would be bartered for goods in the shop. > > In 1748 straw purchased for 6d could be made into plait worth 8s - 9s and > could earn GBP10 - GBP30 per year. Plaiters lived on a diet of bread, > cheese, and bacon. A good wage for an experienced agricultural labourer, > depending on their part of the country, was then around GBP28 - GBP32 per > year. > > Straw plaiting was a domestic industry. They produced an interim raw > material - flat plaits of straw that were purchased by a middle man, > usually > from the nearby market town who sold it on to straw hat manufacturers. > Work > was done inside the home by families and sold to the travelling buyers. > > This craft replaced the older cottage industry of carding, spinning, > reeling > and knitting of wool that had become redundant by the introduction of wool > processing and weaving machinery in Yorkshire in the early 19th century. > > Straw plaiters started at an early age. By 1860 straw plaiting had become > an important source of work and income in Bedfordshire, where Luton and > Dunstable were the great centres of trade and a major centres of straw hat > manufacture. > > Numbers of straw plaiters falls in the second half of the 19th century. In > Bedfordshire numbers declined from 20,701 in 1871 to as few as 485 in > 1901. > This caused by cheap plaits from China and Japan - and fashion changed to > smaller hats and the use of other materials. Craft was killed by machines > in 1874, Far East competition and fashion for felt hats > > By end of Victorian age female cottage industries made little contribution > to household incomes. > > Julie, hope this helps. > > Aye, > > John > in a dark Milton Keynes where it's too cloudy to see the stars. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dave Frampton [mailto:david@watford.karoo.co.uk] > Sent: Sunday, 17 October 2004 7:23 PM > To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [BKM] Interests > > > Researching: > BIGSBY KNIGHT PLUMMER WAGER WARRELL BALDWIN, BEESON PRICE & PEARCY. All in > and around Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois and Beaconsfield. > > I particularly looking for the following: > > Burials in Chenies 1700 - 1800 for WAGER. Can anyone help? > > Does anyone know anything about Straw Plaiters? > > I am trying also to enlarge my knowledge of the social history of the area > 1600 - 1900. Does anyone know of a good site tucked away somewhere. All > the main sites are far too general. > > Many thanks > > Dave Frampton > > > ____________________________________________________________________________ > This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by > Kingston > Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were > detected. > ____________________________________________________________________________ > > > > ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== > Your signature should be no more than 3 lines long and should not include > surname interests which are outside the scope of this List. > > > > > > ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== > View or download up to 20000 archive photos of Buckinghamshire from the > Bucks County Council web site at: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/photo_database > > > > ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== > BGS Website: http://www.bucksgs.org.uk/ > BFHS Website: http://www.bucksfhs.org.uk/ > Bucks Genuki Website: http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/BKM/ > >

Hello List, I found the following in the FRC some time ago and as I am having a clear out thought it may be of interest to some one out there. born 8/1/1963 Luke Richard William Arthur Haslemere SRY " 7/6/1965 luke Michael George Edward """"""" " " 5/11/1922 Luke Dennis Edward Hammersmith LND " 11/2/1928 Collins Isobel Jean High Wycombe BKM M.24/12/1960 High Wycombe born 22/1/1895 Collins Arthur High Wycombe BKM " 18/2/1895 Bunce Daisy Kate " """ "" m. 4/6/1921 High Wycombe " 20/9/1860 Bunce Caleb Beaconsfield BKM " 12/11/1865 Britnell Martha Bledlow BKM M. 21/4/1894 Princes Risborough BKM Caleb Bunce married three times his second and third wives were Britnell sisters. born 25/1/1840 Edward Thomas Britnell Bledlow BKM " 21/3/1840 Caroline Dell Saunderson BKM m.12/7/1865 Bladlow BKM " 9/9/1804 WIilliam Britnell Bledlow BKM " 12/12/1805 Mary Britnell "" " m.23/6/1826 William and Mary were first cousins born 26/3/1779 Edward Britnell Bledlow BKM " 13/10/1777 Elizabeth Stevens Princes Risborough BKM M. 4/2/ 1800 """" """" "" " 27/11/1745 James Stevens Bledlow BKM " 6/9/1741 Hannah Stevens "" "" m.8/12/1767 Bledlow BKM " ? John Stevens ? " ? Hannah Keen ? m. 30/9/1739 Radnage BKM Thanks for your time Pete.

In message <000201c4b433$b6c82bc0$a3ebfea9@mums>, Kirsten Friis Holm Hawkes <kirstenh@iprimus.com.au> writes >This was from John Harris in 2000. Good info about Straw Plaiters! >Kind regards >Kirsten > > > > >> In the 1881 census one of my relatives was listed as a straw platter >> Does anyone know more about what this occupation involved? article about straw plaiting in Bucks Ancestor last winter, with long list of local plaiters round Aston Clinton. Aslo Shire Album on the trade. -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

In message <003901c4b431$c1d70d30$a48e7ad5@wallingford>, Sue Hedges <sue.hedges1@btopenworld.com> writes >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Dave Frampton" <david@watford.karoo.co.uk> > >Dear Dave > >I am rather curious about Agnes BEESON who, in the 1881 Census was a Teacher >of Music, but in 1891 and 1901 she was Registrar of Births and Deaths living >in Bushey HRT. In 1881 Agnes' father Henry was described as Builder and >Registrar. > >I don't know when her father died but I assume she took over as Registrar >from her Father, but how unusual is it for a lady, single or otherwise, to >become a Registrar at that time? unusual, but there were beginning to be a few, and having a father in the trade would have helped a lot. Mrs Pankhurst became a registrar for a while, when she wasn't chaining herself to railings in front of the assembled press. -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

I have a Sarah Hawkins (Widowed) who was listed in the 1841 Wooburn Green, Bucks census as lace makers. Also, I have her son Charles, listed as a paper maker. Would anyone be able to give me a bit of information about the lace makers and/or paper makers and their work in Bucks? Thank you for your help. B. Harrison, Canada Kirsten Friis Holm Hawkes <kirstenh@iprimus.com.au> wrote: This was from John Harris in 2000. Good info about Straw Plaiters! Kind regards Kirsten > In the 1881 census one of my relatives was listed as a straw platter > Does anyone know more about what this occupation involved? In brief Julie, yes -- 'cos over t'other side of the River Ouse have these census entries on some rellies: Sarah Neal Straw plaiter Leighton Buzzard 1871; Ann Proctor Straw plaiter Billington 1861, 1871, 1881; Eliza Kiteley Straw Plaiter Leighton Buzzard 1851. and while the example below is from Bedfordshire, by and large, the work and related conditions would have been fairly similar over your rellie's way in Buckinghamshire. Details such as where and how the straw plait was sold and how the styles of weave may well have differed, yes, but the cottage industry nature of the occupation would have been virtually identical. OK so what did I find out about their work? -- or to put it another way to answer your question what was involved in their straw plaiting occupation? What follows is based on an extract from the family history I'm putting together. It should answer most of your questions. In Bedfordshire one girl in three was employed as a straw plaiter. In Bedfordshire 30% of girls between 10 and 15 were down as straw plaiters in the 1871 census. Many children started work at an early age, some youngsters the censuses list were as young as five. In 1861 when their father, a railway labourer, was away, the Proctor family in Billington are shown as being all straw plaiters. As well as Ann their mother (listed above) the enumerator included Ann 10, Catherine 7, and young John 7. In 1867 the Factory and Workshops Regulation Act made the minimum age eight. In 1878 this was raised to ten (though often ignored). In the mid 19C straw plait was in great demand for hats. These were made in Luton. In the 1870s the peak had been reached. Changes in fashion in favour of smaller straw hats and bonnets for women tipped the industry into decline: as you will see, by 1900 Chinese and Italian imports of a cheaper but higher quality straw plait had all but eliminated the cottage industry - much as lace-making, button-making, glover-making and chair-making were likewise to be overtaken by their manufactured, machine made counterparts. Wives and children of agricultural labourers provided much of the work force for the straw plaiting industry. In 1860 an official report noted that a 'well ordered' family engaged in plaiting could 'obtain as much or more than the husband who was at work on a neighbouring farm'. Workers were exploited and the industry dominated by the employment of women and children. The child plaiter normally learnt the basic skills of the craft at home from his or her mother before being sent 'usually at four years old, some at three and half' to "plait school" at a cost a few pennies, usually two or three pence a week. Plait school was little more than a child-minding business run in a local cottage that exploited the children at the menial tasks of preparing the straw. Often some of the mistress 'teachers' were unable to plait nor teach plaiting themselves. Their sole job was to keep the children working as hard as possible and slaps and canings were regarded as a normal part of the disciplinary process. The materials, the bundles of split and bleached or dyed straw was supplied by the parents who bought them from the dealers - and it was the parents who arranged for the sale of the plaits their children made. To make the material local wheat straw was split by a special tool, cut into 9" lengths, made into bundles, bleached to a an off-white, pale yellow with sulphur smoke ----- and then to make it pliable, it was moistened just before use. The best straw for was grown in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. In a village like Billington almost all the women and children were engaged in straw plaiting in the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s. Gathered in small huddles in their cottages, each carried a bunch of splints under the left arm, pushed close up to the armpit, the elbow having to be kept fairly close to the body to keep the bundle in place. Starting a plait was tricky, but once started, experienced hands moved their fingers quickly, turning 'splints', over and under, with a moments pause now and again to 'set in' a new splint. So the rhythm went relentlessly on. It was hard grinding graft. Colours and movements depended on the pattern being made. Every now and then the straw plaiter would have to align two splints and she would do this by passing them between the lips to moisten them before laying them flat again. If they were careless, the sharp edge of the straw could cut the lip or tongue. Children when they were still learning often cut themselves this way until they learnt the knack better. Having their mouths full of splints did not debar them from talking nor from the pleasure of joining in a little gossip since all her companions would also be her friends. Older children were expected to produce about thirty yards of plait a day. Those more skilled could do more, especially if they had more simple patterns. But those that failed to reach their target might be kept at work until their fingers became quite sore and bleeding with the effort 'to get the required yards of plait finished'. Several varieties were woven - plain, single-plait, pearl, bird's-eye and whipcord to name but a few. More intricate plaits could command as much as 2s 6d a yard when trade was good, The most proficient plaiters might produce as many as four hundred yards of the simpler patterns a week. To do this much women had to sit in bed at four o'clock on a summer morning and plait for an hour or two before rising. In winter, plaiting continued in the dim light of candles - and was hard on their eyesight. Plaiters, usually in family or kinship groups huddled together in the one living room of their cottage -- and under their heavy skirts an earthenware pot of coals glowed to provide warmth. In 1863 a twelve year old girl from nearby Eaton Bray, where Ann Proctor's parents were born described a typical working day to officials: "At the plait school that I am now at I go only from 8 till 12, and from 1 till 4" , but mother sets me the same to do as I did at school where I stayed till 9 o'clock, viz thirty yards, ten in each of the three school times ... We sit very screwed at school. Get 10d a score, and dare say I clear about 5s a week after paying fro straw. Have two sisters younger and a brother older than I am who plait. He goes to the writing school in the day, and does ten yards afterwards, which takes him till 10 o'clock at night. There are I think, seven plait schools in the village, three of them large. All but three of them have night schools, one till 8 the others till 9, and their hours in the day are the same as where I am. Was never at reading school. Can read the Testament but not without the spelling." All too often infringements of the Factory Acts were common. Children would slip out of the back when anyone official called - which was rare - while the number plaiting at home was too great to be dealt with by the police. When caught plait school mistresses often had fines paid by a farmer since this enabled him to pay lower wages to his labourers. It followed that attendance of these children at school was very low and very difficult to enforce. Only with decline of the plait industry was this problem solved. Sales would take place either at one of the special weekly plait markets held at Luton or to itinerant or local dealers who were often also shop-keepers. Often plait would be bartered for goods in the shop. In 1748 straw purchased for 6d could be made into plait worth 8s - 9s and could earn GBP10 - GBP30 per year. Plaiters lived on a diet of bread, cheese, and bacon. A good wage for an experienced agricultural labourer, depending on their part of the country, was then around GBP28 - GBP32 per year. Straw plaiting was a domestic industry. They produced an interim raw material - flat plaits of straw that were purchased by a middle man, usually from the nearby market town who sold it on to straw hat manufacturers. Work was done inside the home by families and sold to the travelling buyers. This craft replaced the older cottage industry of carding, spinning, reeling and knitting of wool that had become redundant by the introduction of wool processing and weaving machinery in Yorkshire in the early 19th century. Straw plaiters started at an early age. By 1860 straw plaiting had become an important source of work and income in Bedfordshire, where Luton and Dunstable were the great centres of trade and a major centres of straw hat manufacture. Numbers of straw plaiters falls in the second half of the 19th century. In Bedfordshire numbers declined from 20,701 in 1871 to as few as 485 in 1901. This caused by cheap plaits from China and Japan - and fashion changed to smaller hats and the use of other materials. Craft was killed by machines in 1874, Far East competition and fashion for felt hats By end of Victorian age female cottage industries made little contribution to household incomes. Julie, hope this helps. Aye, John in a dark Milton Keynes where it's too cloudy to see the stars. -----Original Message----- From: Dave Frampton [mailto:david@watford.karoo.co.uk] Sent: Sunday, 17 October 2004 7:23 PM To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BKM] Interests Researching: BIGSBY KNIGHT PLUMMER WAGER WARRELL BALDWIN, BEESON PRICE & PEARCY. All in and around Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois and Beaconsfield. I particularly looking for the following: Burials in Chenies 1700 - 1800 for WAGER. Can anyone help? Does anyone know anything about Straw Plaiters? I am trying also to enlarge my knowledge of the social history of the area 1600 - 1900. Does anyone know of a good site tucked away somewhere. All the main sites are far too general. Many thanks Dave Frampton ____________________________________________________________________________ This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by Kingston Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were detected. ____________________________________________________________________________ ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== Your signature should be no more than 3 lines long and should not include surname interests which are outside the scope of this List. ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== View or download up to 20000 archive photos of Buckinghamshire from the Bucks County Council web site at: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/photo_database

And this from our very clever Eve in July 2000. Kirsten >In the 1881 census one of my relatives was listed as a straw platter >Does anyone know more about what this occupation involved? > 566 total subscribers > plaiting straw, in the simplest form simple triple cross over like children's hair plaits, but sometimes in very complicated patterns, with peaks and air holes. It was made in the home or at village plait schools from split long wheat straw to make ropes of plait, which was then sewn up into hats, bonnets, straw baskets, and in the coarser form, into round skips for packaging. It was a major occupation in Bedfordshire, east Bucks and West Herts. Luton was the centre of the hat making trade. The straw was collected and sold to the plaiters by straw dealers or higglers, who also collected finished plait to take to market. The home trade was spoiled by cheap imports from Italy. Luton policemen used to wear straw helmets in summer. And after the straw hat trade declined and cardboard was used to make packing boxes, Luton was also the centre for that infustry. -- Eve McLaughlin -----Original Message----- From: Dave Frampton [mailto:david@watford.karoo.co.uk] Sent: Sunday, 17 October 2004 7:23 PM To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BKM] Interests Researching: BIGSBY KNIGHT PLUMMER WAGER WARRELL BALDWIN, BEESON PRICE & PEARCY. All in and around Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois and Beaconsfield. I particularly looking for the following: Burials in Chenies 1700 - 1800 for WAGER. Can anyone help? Does anyone know anything about Straw Plaiters? I am trying also to enlarge my knowledge of the social history of the area 1600 - 1900. Does anyone know of a good site tucked away somewhere. All the main sites are far too general. Many thanks Dave Frampton ____________________________________________________________________________ This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by Kingston Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were detected. ____________________________________________________________________________ ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== Your signature should be no more than 3 lines long and should not include surname interests which are outside the scope of this List.

More from Eve... >In her reply Eve mentioned plaiting the straw. >Forgive me, but what was the purpose of this? The plait (of split straw) was made in long narrow strips, from a quarter inch to an inch wide, with new straw lengths woven into the ends of the old ones, so the finished plait could be several yards long, rolled into coils and loops. The plaiters were paid by the yard. Hats and bonnets were made of rows of straw plait, stitched one on top of the other, edge to edge (so other ancestors could be bonnet sewers). This type of plait, for hats, was very elaborate in patterns with holes and diamonds etc decorating it. Plain plait was also used for making baskets for shopping purposes and general packaging (this could be straw plait or rush plait) Luton was the centre of the straw hat trade, and even the police there wore straw helmets in summer. Cheap Italian imports ruined the home straw plait trade eventually, but Luton continued as the centre for packing materials - card boxes of all kinds etc and later on, plastic packaging. Because the straw plait girls could walk round the village and the fields plaiting away (unliike lace makers, who sat at home on their stools), it was entirely possible to get up to naughties while still apparently working hard. The plait girls had a bit of a reputation for - friendliness- shall we say. However, because the sstraw had to be dampened and kept damp to make it supple enough to bend without breaking, they tended to wet the straw between their lips - causing roughness in the end. One ungallant ytou man observed that 'kissing a straw plaiter be like kissing the old cow's backside' (which didn't stop him doing it. -- Eve McLaughlin -----Original Message----- From: Dave Frampton [mailto:david@watford.karoo.co.uk] Sent: Sunday, 17 October 2004 7:23 PM To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BKM] Interests Researching: BIGSBY KNIGHT PLUMMER WAGER WARRELL BALDWIN, BEESON PRICE & PEARCY. All in and around Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois and Beaconsfield. I particularly looking for the following: Burials in Chenies 1700 - 1800 for WAGER. Can anyone help? Does anyone know anything about Straw Plaiters? I am trying also to enlarge my knowledge of the social history of the area 1600 - 1900. Does anyone know of a good site tucked away somewhere. All the main sites are far too general. Many thanks Dave Frampton ____________________________________________________________________________ This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by Kingston Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were detected. ____________________________________________________________________________ ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== Your signature should be no more than 3 lines long and should not include surname interests which are outside the scope of this List.

This was from John Harris in 2000. Good info about Straw Plaiters! Kind regards Kirsten > In the 1881 census one of my relatives was listed as a straw platter > Does anyone know more about what this occupation involved? In brief Julie, yes -- 'cos over t'other side of the River Ouse have these census entries on some rellies: Sarah Neal Straw plaiter Leighton Buzzard 1871; Ann Proctor Straw plaiter Billington 1861, 1871, 1881; Eliza Kiteley Straw Plaiter Leighton Buzzard 1851. and while the example below is from Bedfordshire, by and large, the work and related conditions would have been fairly similar over your rellie's way in Buckinghamshire. Details such as where and how the straw plait was sold and how the styles of weave may well have differed, yes, but the cottage industry nature of the occupation would have been virtually identical. OK so what did I find out about their work? -- or to put it another way to answer your question what was involved in their straw plaiting occupation? What follows is based on an extract from the family history I'm putting together. It should answer most of your questions. In Bedfordshire one girl in three was employed as a straw plaiter. In Bedfordshire 30% of girls between 10 and 15 were down as straw plaiters in the 1871 census. Many children started work at an early age, some youngsters the censuses list were as young as five. In 1861 when their father, a railway labourer, was away, the Proctor family in Billington are shown as being all straw plaiters. As well as Ann their mother (listed above) the enumerator included Ann 10, Catherine 7, and young John 7. In 1867 the Factory and Workshops Regulation Act made the minimum age eight. In 1878 this was raised to ten (though often ignored). In the mid 19C straw plait was in great demand for hats. These were made in Luton. In the 1870s the peak had been reached. Changes in fashion in favour of smaller straw hats and bonnets for women tipped the industry into decline: as you will see, by 1900 Chinese and Italian imports of a cheaper but higher quality straw plait had all but eliminated the cottage industry - much as lace-making, button-making, glover-making and chair-making were likewise to be overtaken by their manufactured, machine made counterparts. Wives and children of agricultural labourers provided much of the work force for the straw plaiting industry. In 1860 an official report noted that a 'well ordered' family engaged in plaiting could 'obtain as much or more than the husband who was at work on a neighbouring farm'. Workers were exploited and the industry dominated by the employment of women and children. The child plaiter normally learnt the basic skills of the craft at home from his or her mother before being sent 'usually at four years old, some at three and half' to "plait school" at a cost a few pennies, usually two or three pence a week. Plait school was little more than a child-minding business run in a local cottage that exploited the children at the menial tasks of preparing the straw. Often some of the mistress 'teachers' were unable to plait nor teach plaiting themselves. Their sole job was to keep the children working as hard as possible and slaps and canings were regarded as a normal part of the disciplinary process. The materials, the bundles of split and bleached or dyed straw was supplied by the parents who bought them from the dealers - and it was the parents who arranged for the sale of the plaits their children made. To make the material local wheat straw was split by a special tool, cut into 9" lengths, made into bundles, bleached to a an off-white, pale yellow with sulphur smoke ----- and then to make it pliable, it was moistened just before use. The best straw for was grown in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. In a village like Billington almost all the women and children were engaged in straw plaiting in the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s. Gathered in small huddles in their cottages, each carried a bunch of splints under the left arm, pushed close up to the armpit, the elbow having to be kept fairly close to the body to keep the bundle in place. Starting a plait was tricky, but once started, experienced hands moved their fingers quickly, turning 'splints', over and under, with a moments pause now and again to 'set in' a new splint. So the rhythm went relentlessly on. It was hard grinding graft. Colours and movements depended on the pattern being made. Every now and then the straw plaiter would have to align two splints and she would do this by passing them between the lips to moisten them before laying them flat again. If they were careless, the sharp edge of the straw could cut the lip or tongue. Children when they were still learning often cut themselves this way until they learnt the knack better. Having their mouths full of splints did not debar them from talking nor from the pleasure of joining in a little gossip since all her companions would also be her friends. Older children were expected to produce about thirty yards of plait a day. Those more skilled could do more, especially if they had more simple patterns. But those that failed to reach their target might be kept at work until their fingers became quite sore and bleeding with the effort 'to get the required yards of plait finished'. Several varieties were woven - plain, single-plait, pearl, bird's-eye and whipcord to name but a few. More intricate plaits could command as much as 2s 6d a yard when trade was good, The most proficient plaiters might produce as many as four hundred yards of the simpler patterns a week. To do this much women had to sit in bed at four o'clock on a summer morning and plait for an hour or two before rising. In winter, plaiting continued in the dim light of candles - and was hard on their eyesight. Plaiters, usually in family or kinship groups huddled together in the one living room of their cottage -- and under their heavy skirts an earthenware pot of coals glowed to provide warmth. In 1863 a twelve year old girl from nearby Eaton Bray, where Ann Proctor's parents were born described a typical working day to officials: "At the plait school that I am now at I go only from 8 till 12, and from 1 till 4" , but mother sets me the same to do as I did at school where I stayed till 9 o'clock, viz thirty yards, ten in each of the three school times ... We sit very screwed at school. Get 10d a score, and dare say I clear about 5s a week after paying fro straw. Have two sisters younger and a brother older than I am who plait. He goes to the writing school in the day, and does ten yards afterwards, which takes him till 10 o'clock at night. There are I think, seven plait schools in the village, three of them large. All but three of them have night schools, one till 8 the others till 9, and their hours in the day are the same as where I am. Was never at reading school. Can read the Testament but not without the spelling." All too often infringements of the Factory Acts were common. Children would slip out of the back when anyone official called - which was rare - while the number plaiting at home was too great to be dealt with by the police. When caught plait school mistresses often had fines paid by a farmer since this enabled him to pay lower wages to his labourers. It followed that attendance of these children at school was very low and very difficult to enforce. Only with decline of the plait industry was this problem solved. Sales would take place either at one of the special weekly plait markets held at Luton or to itinerant or local dealers who were often also shop-keepers. Often plait would be bartered for goods in the shop. In 1748 straw purchased for 6d could be made into plait worth 8s - 9s and could earn GBP10 - GBP30 per year. Plaiters lived on a diet of bread, cheese, and bacon. A good wage for an experienced agricultural labourer, depending on their part of the country, was then around GBP28 - GBP32 per year. Straw plaiting was a domestic industry. They produced an interim raw material - flat plaits of straw that were purchased by a middle man, usually from the nearby market town who sold it on to straw hat manufacturers. Work was done inside the home by families and sold to the travelling buyers. This craft replaced the older cottage industry of carding, spinning, reeling and knitting of wool that had become redundant by the introduction of wool processing and weaving machinery in Yorkshire in the early 19th century. Straw plaiters started at an early age. By 1860 straw plaiting had become an important source of work and income in Bedfordshire, where Luton and Dunstable were the great centres of trade and a major centres of straw hat manufacture. Numbers of straw plaiters falls in the second half of the 19th century. In Bedfordshire numbers declined from 20,701 in 1871 to as few as 485 in 1901. This caused by cheap plaits from China and Japan - and fashion changed to smaller hats and the use of other materials. Craft was killed by machines in 1874, Far East competition and fashion for felt hats By end of Victorian age female cottage industries made little contribution to household incomes. Julie, hope this helps. Aye, John in a dark Milton Keynes where it's too cloudy to see the stars. -----Original Message----- From: Dave Frampton [mailto:david@watford.karoo.co.uk] Sent: Sunday, 17 October 2004 7:23 PM To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BKM] Interests Researching: BIGSBY KNIGHT PLUMMER WAGER WARRELL BALDWIN, BEESON PRICE & PEARCY. All in and around Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois and Beaconsfield. I particularly looking for the following: Burials in Chenies 1700 - 1800 for WAGER. Can anyone help? Does anyone know anything about Straw Plaiters? I am trying also to enlarge my knowledge of the social history of the area 1600 - 1900. Does anyone know of a good site tucked away somewhere. All the main sites are far too general. Many thanks Dave Frampton ____________________________________________________________________________ This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by Kingston Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were detected. ____________________________________________________________________________ ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== Your signature should be no more than 3 lines long and should not include surname interests which are outside the scope of this List.

Dear Bernice (and all): Ever since I found (and met) all of my wonderful Saskatchewan family members I have been fascinated by the connections that stirred the immigrants to make the move to Saskatchewan. My William Blake left his family in Watford, Herts about 1907 and lived in Qu-Appelle before homesteading in the Woodrow/McCord area in 1913. William and his family had been farmers in Boarstall, Bucks for several generations so by homesteading he was able to get back to the farming he loved and missed. But I have never found any connections that he made in England that travelled also to SK. I know there was much publicity at the time but surely such a big endeavor would be best taken with a friend or family member. William was over 60 when he emigrated. One son did join him later on. Any ideas about how to find any connections? Annette Richards Sonoma, California

Could someone with access to 1841 Census, please look up the William Brown family hopefully living at Holly Bush Hill, Stoke Poges. Thanks, Bob Roberts

Can anyone help with the following please? I'm looking for the baptism of my ggg grandfather George NASH (father William) in Chesham in 1820/1821. Unfortunately, neither the BGS nor the Bucks FHS appear to have copies of the registers covering this particular period. Is there any way I could find the information I'm looking for, other than by visiting the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies in Aylesbury? The Centre's website states that the original registers for St Mary's have been *temporarily* deposited with them. Does anyone know what temporarily means in this instance i.e. how long they will hold them for? Are there any plans to transcribe or film these registers in the near future? I'd be very grateful for answers to any or all of these questions! Lizzie Allen Cambridge ___________________________________________________________ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Hello I would like to thank everybody who has responed with such useful information both on and 'off list' with specific and general assistance. I have been able to confirm that Zilpah is my GGG grandmother - also that she was an ING and that her mother was an ALNUTT, so more searcing ahead. Thanks also for an amazing site. Richard Hello list I am fairly new to ancestor tracing, so any guidance will be great. I am seeking family in Long Crendon. My Mother Grace FLYNN (b 1924), Grandmother Ada WEBB (b 1887), and G Grandmother Thirza WARNER (b 1862) were all born or lived at Church End/Green. My GG Grandmother was Susanna(h). She married John WARNER. I believe her to be a GOVIER or perhaps BALDWIN? Looking at the 1851 Census, it shows John WARNER in Church Green and next door Susanna GOVIER. Their ages fit in with the 1881 Census, when they were living in the High Street with their two youngest children. I am wanting to confirm that these are one and the same from Church Green. However, I am confused by the 1851 census. This shows both John and Susanna as being 'W', which I assume is 'widow' and 'widower', living next door to each other. John is living with his parents, Thomas and Hannah WARNER. In the house of Susanna GOVIER, is Zilpah BALDWIN, listed as Head (aged 66). In addition to Susanna, 4 children are listed, all GOVIER. The 2 boys are shown as GS which I take to be Grandsons, but both the girls (age 11 and 3 yrs) are shown as DL, which indicates Daughter in Law. I presume this to be a mistake or was this a common way of description? I am also intrigued to know whether the children are Susannas' or whether she is perhaps the step-mother. She is listed as being 25 and the eldest child is 11years. Did she start at 14, have 4 children by GOVIER, and then another 7 with John WARNER? I would like to discover if Susanna would have been a BALDWIN (before marrying a GOVIER) and if Zilpah is her Mother. Also, how do I get hold of Zilpah's records for her parents' detail, she being born around 1785? Zilpah does not seem to appear in the Parish Register. I understand that a gentleman, by the name of Govier, has within the past few years written a book about his family connection with the needle industry and may have some wider family history. The maternal line that I am following are all Lacemakers although I imagine there was a lot of 'crossover' with needles. Any pointers would be appreciated Thanks Richard Rogers ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== Advertising for financial gain is not permitted on this List, although subscribers may include a link to their website in their signature.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Frampton" <david@watford.karoo.co.uk> Dear Dave I am rather curious about Agnes BEESON who, in the 1881 Census was a Teacher of Music, but in 1891 and 1901 she was Registrar of Births and Deaths living in Bushey HRT. In 1881 Agnes' father Henry was described as Builder and Registrar. I don't know when her father died but I assume she took over as Registrar from her Father, but how unusual is it for a lady, single or otherwise, to become a Registrar at that time? My interest is through Annie Tildens STUCHBURY who married George Edens HEDGES of Oxford - not my own HEDGES family but part of my Hedges One Name Study. Best wishes Sue Researching the HEDGES surname World-wide www.Hedges-Study.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Frampton" <david@watford.karoo.co.uk> To: <BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 10:22 AM Subject: [BKM] Interests > Researching: > BIGSBY KNIGHT PLUMMER WAGER WARRELL BALDWIN, BEESON PRICE & PEARCY. All > in and around Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois and Beaconsfield. > > I particularly looking for the following: > > Burials in Chenies 1700 - 1800 for WAGER. Can anyone help? > > Does anyone know anything about Straw Plaiters? > > I am trying also to enlarge my knowledge of the social history of the area > 1600 - 1900. Does anyone know of a good site tucked away somewhere. All > the main sites are far too general. > > Many thanks > > Dave Frampton > > > ____________________________________________________________________________ > This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by > Kingston > Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were > detected. > ____________________________________________________________________________ > > > > ==== BUCKS Mailing List ==== > Your signature should be no more than 3 lines long and should not include > surname interests which are outside the scope of this List. >

Researching: BIGSBY KNIGHT PLUMMER WAGER WARRELL BALDWIN, BEESON PRICE & PEARCY. All in and around Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois and Beaconsfield. I particularly looking for the following: Burials in Chenies 1700 - 1800 for WAGER. Can anyone help? Does anyone know anything about Straw Plaiters? I am trying also to enlarge my knowledge of the social history of the area 1600 - 1900. Does anyone know of a good site tucked away somewhere. All the main sites are far too general. Many thanks Dave Frampton ____________________________________________________________________________ This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by Kingston Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were detected. ____________________________________________________________________________

Hi, I was wondering if anybody might please be able to do a look up on the 1861 census at all please for a family with the surname DEAN. I am hoping to learn some more about a Joseph DEAN who would have been approx. 63 years old in 1861 and an Agricultural Labourer or Shepherd born in Horton. I believe he may have also been living in Horton with his family if they were still at home and would love to learn some more about them and in particular his wifes name if at all possible and they are living together in 1861. If anyone might possibly please be able to find them in 1861 I would be very grateful. Thankyou so very much in advance. Kindest regards, Tina Connell

I'm sending 1851 direct as CSV file Bill -----Original Message----- From: Tina Connell [mailto:tcconnell@bigpond.com] Sent: 16 October 2004 07:38 To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: 1841 and/or 1851 census look-up please - Surname DEAN Hi, I was wondering if anybody might please have access to the 1841 and/ or 1851 census at all please and might please be able to look up a lady for me. I am hoping to learn some more about a lady named Lydia DEAN who was born in Horton, Buckinghamshire and who would have been approx. 7 in 1841 and 17 in 1851. I also know that her fathers name was Joseph DEAN and he was a shepherd in 1852. I hope that they might be in the 2 censuses I believe possibly living in Wraysbury. If anybody might please be able to find them I would be so grateful as I would love so much to hopefully learn some more about Lydia and in particular he her mothers name to then hopefully locate her christening record. Thankyou so very much for all of your help. Kind regards, Tina Connell ______________________________

Can't see a 75 year old Elizabeth. There are quite a few TAPPINS including William age 40 Elizabeth age 35 and family. I'll keep looking. Bill -----Original Message----- From: Tina Connell [mailto:tcconnell@bigpond.com] Sent: 16 October 2004 07:53 To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: 1841 census look up please - surname TAPPIN or TAPPING Hi, I was wondering if anybody might please have access to the 1841 census at all and might please be able to look up a lady called Elizabeth TAPPING (sometimes spelt TAPPIN) who was 75 years old in 1841 and who might have been living with her husband William (who had passed away by 1851) Elizabeth I believe was born in Wraysbury and should have still been living there in 1841. Thankyou so very much. Kindest regards, Tina Connell ______________________________

Found Lydia on 1841. Unfortunately the pdf file is protected so I can't grab an image. Here is a transcription HO107/060 EN 12 f8v p 11 Joseph DEAN 35 Ag Lab Elizabeth 37 Wm 11 Lydia 9 James 6 Henry 4 Thomas 1 Maria 65 (The 6 was difficult on this last one) I think there's a tick in the last column for Elizabeth and Maria ie not born in England or Wales) I think the rest have Y for born in Bucks Bill (I'll look for your TAPPINGs in Wraysbury now) -----Original Message----- From: Tina Connell [mailto:tcconnell@bigpond.com] Sent: 16 October 2004 07:38 To: BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: 1841 and/or 1851 census look-up please - Surname DEAN Hi, I was wondering if anybody might please have access to the 1841 and/ or 1851 census at all please and might please be able to look up a lady for me. I am hoping to learn some more about a lady named Lydia DEAN who was born in Horton, Buckinghamshire and who would have been approx. 7 in 1841 and 17 in 1851. I also know that her fathers name was Joseph DEAN and he was a shepherd in 1852. I hope that they might be in the 2 censuses I believe possibly living in Wraysbury. If anybody might please be able to find them I would be so grateful as I would love so much to hopefully learn some more about Lydia and in particular he her mothers name to then hopefully locate her christening record. Thankyou so very much for all of your help. Kind regards, Tina Connell ______________________________

In message <154.416829fb.2ea1a484@aol.com>, BOUNDSHEILAMARY@aol.com writes >I would be pleased to hear from anyone researching the following families in >the Haddenham and Thame area. > >ROSE - Phillis ROSE married Richard BURNARD in Thame in 1763.Phillis was born >about > 1735 but so far I have been unable to trace a baptism. She was >the grand daughter of John ROSE 1652-1726 of Haddenham . And the daughter of Edward Rose of Thame by his wife, Ann Burrows. Edward was an 'utter barrister' meaning he worked in the provinces, and Ann was a rich man's daughter - John having been apprenticed to the grandfather in his young days. It sounds as if you have access to the family tree I worked out for Miss Elsie Rose, late of Haddenham, since no one else had made the connection. -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

Hi Everyone, Would love to hear from anyone else who might be researching the MILLS family from Wraysbury in Buckinghamshire approx. late 1700's - late 1800's. Kind regards, Tina Connell