Hi Maurine Agree with Brian, but would also add that some of the men who went from Dorset to Newfie would be taken on in the Spring by the Poole merchants who financed the vessel ; would work their passage across the Pond, spend the Summer working for the ship owner on the Grand Banks, or where ever, and then remain in North America when the vessel returned to Poole towards the end of the year. So, if he could have afforded the fare, he might have travelled as a passenger, but if not, he may well have worked his passage. Regards Paul On Thu, 19 May 2005 18:49:19 EDT, BDavis9359@aol.com wrote: >Hello Maurine . >You are probably on the right track , it is most likely to be Studland >which is close to Poole and that is where lots of ships set out to Newfie they >would take cargo and passengers out then return home with fish. >Brian > >Brian M DAVIS >Concord .California >94521 >U,S,A 50.33.50N 02.26.70W http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html

Thank you everyone for your input. I belong to the Grandbanks List and because of the thousands of records transcribed, I was able to find all the Curtis family members. Now the trail leads to Dorset and hopefully I will be able to find the family of William Thos. Curtis born in 1814. I appreciate the help. I found some wonderful maps of Dorset and now will have to learn all about the fishing industry during the early 1800s in Dorset. Thank you, Maureen (Canada)

Hello Maurine . You are probably on the right track , it is most likely to be Studland which is close to Poole and that is where lots of ships set out to Newfie they would take cargo and passengers out then return home with fish. Brian Brian M DAVIS Concord .California 94521 U,S,A

Twillingate NFD is the old name for Bonavista Bay Area.When you subscribe to the NFLD mailing list you will see the names of areas changed. keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

Christchurch: which is within walking distance of Poole., was a very poor Harbour.Poole wasn't, so working the Sea was more lucretive.In Poole Christchurch was a den of Smugglers.Floating into the shallow bay,casks of Brandy Etc.was easy,loaded on Wagons and off to Ringwood for distribution. Newfoundland,was also lucretive,for the poor people of Christchurch.The Cod Fisherman and the Whalers did well In Newfoundland.There was money too be made. Small groups actually settled there,So called fishing rooms. Thomas Cole's website on Dorset-l@rootsweb.com is very helpfull.The 1851 census and other information is readily available. Bristol comes into play quite abit.since Bristol Merchants finance Cabot.Who explored Newfoundland. My family connection start with George Head born in Cheriton,Somerset, abt 1810,.just south of Wincanton,Wincanton was a crossroads.George did military duty in the Royal Artillery where he learned, how to be a Wheelwright."Keeping those Smugglers Wagons Rolling." I have several lines in this area.so I am posting a list of surnames relavant to this area Blatchford,Head,Gillingham,Pitt,Broomfield, I was born in Weymouth myself in 1945. keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

Hello, I am new to the list and live in Canada. I am trying to find information on the Curtis Family that settled in Newfoundland: Bible Entry States: William Thomas Curtis of Shedland?, Dorset born 1814 - Shedland, England William settled at Carter's Head, Twillingate Nfld. and died 1899 Little Bay Islands, Twillingate, Nfld. 1899 William's father could be William B. Curtis of England. Could Shedland be Studland? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Maureen Williams Canada

I now live in Alamogordo,New Mexico. I was born in Weymouth.Dorset. keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

Roger, I enjoyed the funny poem....... I also caught your reference to the Sangre de Christo Mountains....we lived in Santa Fe, NM, during the 1980's....what a wonderful mountain range it is........the drive up to the ski basin during the fall is breathtaking......the Aspens turn the mountainsides into a rippling field of gold...... I, evidently, missed the first reference to "God's Telephone", so I am not sure why you mentioned the Sangre de Christo's, but it did bring back some pleasant memories......thanx...... ----- Original Message ----- From: zgordo@webtv.net To: ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 5:14 AM Subject: Re: [DOOR-LIFE] God's Telephone This area is called the "Sandre De Cristo" Mountains.or the blood of christ mountains. Billy the Kid was here. Cowboys,Apache's,Desert Rats. Malinda fell way down in love. With a Mountain Boy. she knew. but it was quite the proper thing. as she was mountain too. She hastened to tell her pappy That shortly she would Wed One likely: Mr Rufus Brown When pappy. looked and said No! honeychild,you can't,do that. You'll have to find another. Don't tell your Ma.I said this But Rufus is sort of a Half-Brother Malinda shed a few tears. and slowely went her way Soon she met another Mountain Boy Now.Pappy,I'll marry the Smith Boy. Who lives on down the street He ain't got no bad habits and dresses real net But Pappy.shook his head Looking across to Mother He Wispered,You can't do that The Smith boy is also your Half-Brother She forgot her oath,she had made earlier and Blurted out.too Mother Pappy sais: I can't marry The Smith or the Brown Boy Cause there both Half-Brothers Although it sounds like treason But,for just the same old reason I cannot Marry either one Don't cry, Mother said. Put on your Wedding Cap and marry either one. YOU AIN'T NO KIN TO PAPPY keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

Hello List I "stole" this one from the Cornish List. We children of Dorset will make the necessary changes of course! Geoff CHURCH PHONE A man in the far north of England, decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started in his home town and started working south from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall, and was intrigued with a sign which read, "£10,000 per minute." Seeking out the pastor, he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that the golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven, and if he pays the price, he can talk directly to God. The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in various places around the country, he found more such phones, with the same sign, and the same explanation from each pastor. Finally, the man arrived in Cornwall. Upon entering a church, behold: he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read: "Calls: 25p"! Fascinated, the man asked to speak with the pastor. "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone, and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven, and that I could use it to talk to God. But in 20 other churches, the cost was £10,000 per minute. Your sign says 25p per call. Why is that? The pastor, smiling benignly, replied: "Son, you're in Cornwall now and it's a local call." Thanks to Peter D. Williams. "Map Carrek Dhu" Dolgwedhen 3, Ponsvale Ponsanooth Truro Cornwall TR3 7RQ

Well This is how it Appears too me. Grandmothers Family George Head born abt 1814 in a small saxon village south of Wincanton. George entered the Royal Artillery Corp at Woolwich.He became a Wheelwright. He met Mary Ann unk surname.married They moved to Christchurch.Had three son's.No Daughters.? The 1841 census, states, George and John Head, married, unknown women,one was at the Ship in Distress and the other brother at the Salisbury Arms.working for Smugglers.? Well ! Wheelwrights made or fixed wagon wheels.? Wagon's were used to transport casks of Brandy smuggled in.YEA! The road too Burton. went north to Ringwood for distribution.The third brother,Tom Head married the Butcher's Daughter.Martha Pitt.[Robert and Charlotte nee Breaker,Pitt ] Was.?. Tom as bad as the other two brothers.?.Time will tell.!.He moved to Burton, where my grandmother Lily May Head was born abt 1884.In 1891, Tom moved too Milbrook in Southampton.Tom's daughter marries a Mariner who's family is one from the Channel Islands where smuggled Brandy origionate from.The other is alledged to origionate from an abducted Bengali Prince,mariner possibly slaver.from Falmouth,Cornwall.area. So this is in itself a tale.of Southern England. From the Severn to Woolwich.throw in the Channel Islands, South Africa. NFLD,Port-Au-Prince,Haiti.and Prince Edward Island. I would be most interested in any John Mullet married to a Maria Richards.They claimed too be from Mintre Magna,Dorset.this would be just after 1820. It won't be long before a web site will be needed. keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

Shotgun Wedding. Shoot the groom in the knee. That way he's less likely too runaway. Keep E'm down on the farm,working,and close too home.They won't stray that way. Leap year, April 29, Is Sadie Hawkins Day. When the Women pick you.Why waste, your time, chasing them when,They'll chase you.If you won't chase them. keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

This area is called the "Sandre De Cristo" Mountains.or the blood of christ mountains. Billy the Kid was here. Cowboys,Apache's,Desert Rats. Malinda fell way down in love. With a Mountain Boy. she knew. but it was quite the proper thing. as she was mountain too. She hastened to tell her pappy That shortly she would Wed One likely: Mr Rufus Brown When pappy. looked and said No! honeychild,you can't,do that. You'll have to find another. Don't tell your Ma.I said this But Rufus is sort of a Half-Brother Malinda shed a few tears. and slowely went her way Soon she met another Mountain Boy Now.Pappy,I'll marry the Smith Boy. Who lives on down the street He ain't got no bad habits and dresses real net But Pappy.shook his head Looking across to Mother He Wispered,You can't do that The Smith boy is also your Half-Brother She forgot her oath,she had made earlier and Blurted out.too Mother Pappy sais: I can't marry The Smith or the Brown Boy Cause there both Half-Brothers Although it sounds like treason But,for just the same old reason I cannot Marry either one Don't cry, Mother said. Put on your Wedding Cap and marry either one. YOU AIN'T NO KIN TO PAPPY keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

Roger wrote 'Grandfather was part of a Mariner Family out of Guernsey.actually his Father.The "SS Courier II was a Tramp Steamer,Island Hopping delivering Royal Mail,Cargo,Livestock and passengers,too the Islands.This line of Blatchford's manned this boat for many years.' I haven't found anything of interest regarding George Tame Blatchford of Guernsey in the records of Merchant Seamen held at the National Archives at Kew but there are two entries relating to Maurice Albert BLATCHFORD b 8 January 1913 in Guernsey. The first is his service record in BT 372/582/82. Sometimes these records are very informative and may include details of next of kin, training, ships in which served and often a photograph and even fingerprints. On a general note a search in this class with the keyword Weymouth (or any other place) for example results in a long list of Merchant seamen who were born there. In another class, BT 390/9/20, he appears as Name: Blatchford, Maurice Albert. Service number: R282222. Place of birth: Guernsey. Date of birth: 8 January 1913. I am unfamiliar with this class but the details given say Context - BT Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies Division within BT - Records of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen and successor BT 390 - Ministry of War Transport: Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen: Merchant Seamen who served on Royal Navy ships under the T124X and T124T agreements: Records Subseries within BT 390 T124X AGREEMENT - BRITISH SEAMEN BT 390/9 BLAKE A to BOUTELL A E. Perhaps someone can advise on these T124 agreements. John Rogan in Wiltshire

thank you very much.I will alert a direct decendant in Guernsey.I work with several others.I share. keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

I was born in Weymouth 1945.Grandfather George Tame Blatchford,was a Cabin and or Saloon Steward.Grandmother operated the Duke Of Edenburg,a public house in Weymouth.Grandfather passed away nov 1942. My mother Lily May Blatchford married in Weymouth too a US Navy man in 1944.When the family vacated the Pub grandmother moved down the street and opened a Hospice for Military men. She moved too Winchester and lived with her sister Annie nee Head Broomfield until her death in 1952 Grandmother Lily May nee Head May have had relatives in Weymouth.? Grandfather was part of a Mariner Family out of Guernsey.actually his Father.The "SS Courier II was a Tramp Steamer,Island Hopping delivering Royal Mail,Cargo,Livestock and passengers,too the Islands.This line of Blatchford's manned this boat for many years. In 1940 the German Occupation of the Islands forced the SS Courier too flee too Weymouth where it stayed until after WWII.. I have not found any of the displaced Blatchford's in Weymouth.WHY.? keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

Hi folks ... have just resubscribed after looking after children for the last few years. My interests are the CASE family from Weymouth (in particular John Case who was a Cabinet Maker/Upholsterer/Undertaker with a business in the centre of town in the 1800s), and the HOUNSELL family from Bridport. No requests at this time although if anyone has similar interests I look forward to hearing more. Lou in Australia

Thanks Cathy, I just spent my kids inheritence! VBG Great site Louise

There are some useful books on Dorset published by Dovecote Press. See: http://www.dovecotepress.com/ Cathy At 12:16 31/03/2005, you wrote: >Hello, >I'm a new lister interested in Puddletown or Piddletown as it was named in >the era I am looking. >Is there any books printed which gives an insight into life in the >1520-1700 time frame? Maybe not specific to Puddletown but Dorset on a whole. ><snip> >Regards >Louise

----- Hello, I'm a new lister interested in Puddletown or Piddletown as it was named in the era I am looking. Is there any books printed which gives an insight into life in the 1520-1700 time frame? Maybe not specific to Puddletown but Dorset on a whole. The family I am researching,Genge ,were there for some years and one aspect that really interests me is if a male was old enough to be on the Muster list at 16 years ,would he marry at that age? I know women could & did but wondered re males. It will be interesting to know what kind of work the men did,what the houses looked like,all activities that were on a daily basis. Looking forward to someone being able to give some advice as to where I would find this information. Regards Louise louiseg82@iprimus.com.au

Hi Louise, Until 1926(!!), boys could marry at 14, and girls at 12! It was rare for marriages to take place at those ages, even in Victorian times, though it could happen, usually prompted by the financial circumstances of the families concerned, or the "making good" of "mistakes" which had already been born. Parental consent was required for all parties under the age of 21 (i.e. minors), and I know that in Tudor times it was required that they should each live with their parents until they were sixteen. Practically the only work in the area at that time was agricultural. Puddle, or Piddle, (or alternatively Trenthide) is the name of the river on which Puddletown is built, and the next village along is Tolpuddle, which is very famous for its six Martyrs, agricultural workers who were deported to your shores for the heinous crime of forming what is now celebrated as the first ever Trade Union. See the museum website at http://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/ if you haven't already. Tolpuddle is not too far for people to have travelled to more varied work in Dorchester, though few would have. There is also Puddletown Forest, so forestry would have kept some people busy, though I don't know the pre-Forestry Commission history of the forest. Dorset-Life has been (apparently) hibernating recently, but there are some very knowledgable listers out there who, I'm sure, can elaborate further. All the best, Davy Cannon, Dorchester, Dorset