This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MichaelSPRACKLING Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.england.dor.general/110.1037.1.2.1.1.1.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Vanessa & Penny, I think 'one-eyed in the kingdom of the blind' might be more appropriate than 'expert'! For example, I didn't know about the larceny conviction, so thanks for that. Yes, the larcenist might have been George (Tailor of Powerstock for about 60 years) born Toller Porcorum 5 Oct 1809. [He was my 3c 3r.] In the 1841 C he was SPRACKLAND, '51, '61 & '71 SPRANKLIN, '81 SPRACKLING and death registered in 1890 as SPRACKLIN. Equally he could have been George SPRANKLYN bap. 13 Nov 1808 Wareham. Now why did so many leave Dorset for Hampshire? Undoubtedly the employment opportunities in the dockyards of Southampton and Portsmouth were much more attractive than living on a pittance as an Ag Lab in Dorset. The advent of the railway obviously made it very much easier for them. My g. gf. Isaac was born in Loders in 1819 and worked all over S. Dorset as a Farm Bailiff, probably on annual contracts. He moved to the New Forest c.1860 and spent the last 30 years of his life at Battramsley Farm, Boldre. When he died in 1893 he left £39 2s. so moving to Hampshire didn't guarantee you'd make a fortune! Regards, Michael Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.