One of my ancestors signed a census enumeration form for the canal boat of which he was master. His signature appears to have been written slowly & carefully, & the rest of the form was filled in in another, much more fluent, hand - with his surname spelt differently. I think that he could only write his name, & might not have been able to read even that. I doubt he ever went to school. Being able to write ones own name is not necessarily an indication of having any schooling. Paul It's possible to learn to Margaret Holmes wrote: > I have been reading the book "Henry Mundy - A Young Australian Pioneer" which has set me wondering about schools in or close to Great Brickhill. > My husband's great great grandfather John Holmes, a shepherd, was seemingly able to write his name at least. His son George, a groom was similarly literate.
Paul, I'm I right in thinking you are related to the Varney family of Mentmore/Wing,Bucks? Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Irving" <pauljirving@ntlworld.com> To: <bucks@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 12:42 PM Subject: Re: [BKM] schools in early 19th century > One of my ancestors signed a census enumeration form for the canal boat > of which he was master. His signature appears to have been written > slowly & carefully, & the rest of the form was filled in in another, > much more fluent, hand - with his surname spelt differently. I think > that he could only write his name, & might not have been able to read > even that. I doubt he ever went to school. > > Being able to write ones own name is not necessarily an indication of > having any schooling. > > Paul > > It's possible to learn to > > Margaret Holmes wrote: >> I have been reading the book "Henry Mundy - A Young Australian Pioneer" >> which has set me wondering about schools in or close to Great Brickhill. >> My husband's great great grandfather John Holmes, a shepherd, was >> seemingly able to write his name at least. His son George, a groom was >> similarly literate. > > *************************************** > > 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/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BUCKS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >