Thanks very much for that Davy. Is there anyone else out there who can add to this? Or perhaps have a recipe for Wassail Punch! <G> regards Caroline > > > Wassailing is one of the oldest customs.Whilst the name comes from the Old > English "waes hael" (be well), the practice itself is believed to date back > to before the Roman invasion (i.e. prehistoric). > > Wassailing is literally drinking the health of someone or something, and the > term can be found to refer to a toast for any reason (who needs much > persuading to have a drink?!). The traditional time for wassailing was > Yuletide (i.e. the twelve days of Christmas, and presumably the > pre-Christian equivalent around the winter solstice), and Twelfth Night was > the traditional time for wassailing the apple trees to ensure a good harvest > in the coming year. After drinking the health of the trees, the revellers > would scare off evil spirits with loud noises, and later in history guns > would be fired into the trees.

I had something like that one Christmas or just before, on a boat in Weymouth. I only had a little as I don't normally drink, but I still can't remember getting off that boat! ;-) Debby > I have it as "warm (mulled), sugared and spiced ale or wine". However > they don't give the quantities - so I think we'll have to give it several > experimental concoctions and see if we find something drinkable! If we get > that far..... > > Cheers, even if it ain't Yuletide! > > Geoff --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.673 / Virus Database: 435 - Release Date: 01/05/2004

I have it as "warm (mulled), sugared and spiced ale or wine". However they don't give the quantities - so I think we'll have to give it several experimental concoctions and see if we find something drinkable! If we get that far..... Cheers, even if it ain't Yuletide! Geoff

Wassailing is one of the oldest customs.Whilst the name comes from the Old English "waes hael" (be well), the practice itself is believed to date back to before the Roman invasion (i.e. prehistoric). Wassailing is literally drinking the health of someone or something, and the term can be found to refer to a toast for any reason (who needs much persuading to have a drink?!). The traditional time for wassailing was Yuletide (i.e. the twelve days of Christmas, and presumably the pre-Christian equivalent around the winter solstice), and Twelfth Night was the traditional time for wassailing the apple trees to ensure a good harvest in the coming year. After drinking the health of the trees, the revellers would scare off evil spirits with loud noises, and later in history guns would be fired into the trees. The traditional wassail drink was an elaborate version of mulled wine or ale, usually with pulped stewed apples in it. No doubt more erudite listers can put some more meat on to the bones........?? Davy Cannon Dorchester, Dorset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Caroline Ingram" <cingram@iinet.net.au> To: <ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 12:53 AM Subject: [DOR-LIFE] Customs - wassailing, Christmas etc > Hello all > I would like to know a little more about some of the Dorset customs. > For example several of my ancestors were baptised on Christmas day. What > festivities went on in the house during that time? Hardy mentioned > mummers plays and carol singing. Another ancestor died the day they > would be wassailing the apple trees. I would like to know a bit about > that too. Anyone know about these things? Or perhaps other festivies and > customs? > > regards > Caroline Ingram > Western Australia

Not Dorset, but those who have been to Normandy will know that the countryside is very similar, and life as rural as Dorset must have been many years ago - in spite of tractors etc. Anyway, I was checking out my wife's ancestors - reasonably easy going back to early 1800s - sheer hell trying to do more unless you have blue blood. This tale reminds me of all the complicated brickwalls that we have all met at one time or another, or the doubtful births of children to 55yr-old ladies etc etc and etc.... But this one is 20thC! I am generally against the idea of including living people in my trees, but the family in general thought it would be a good idea to show the tree to my wife's 94yr old great aunt, still very compos mentis. She showed a lot of interest, and was even able to fill in a few blanks. She stared strangely at the name of what was one of her cousins b.1908, and said I would have to write to America to get his death details. The only thing was that we knew he was still alive, and no more than 10 miles away! Family tradition had it that there was a problem between the two families so we'd never mentioned it before. As usual I put my foot in it and told her. She seemed amazed, especially since she thought he had left for the USA in 1928 and had never returned. She hesitated when we suggested they meet up, but finally agreed with a french equivalent of "What the hell, it won't change anything". So we fetched the old man from his nursing home (not the same day), warning him that he was in for a surprise, because he knew nothing of his cousin's existence. It turned out that he had left in 1928, but it was not the best of times to emigrate what with the Wall Street crash, recession etc. and he had come back in 1931 - to his parents' farm. She did indeed ask why he hadn't come to see her parents, and he replied that his parents had told him that they were not on speaking terms and didn't want him to go. She had married and had had 3 children, he had married but without offspring, about which he was very unhappy. After a glass ot two of farm-distilled Calvados, the family drove the old man back to his Home, leaving me and my wife alone with the old lady. "Still as weak-minded as he was 70yrs ago," said she, "No good telling him that his son was buried 25 yrs ago, and now his grandson and great-grandson are running both my farm and what was his." To cut a long story short, when he left for the US she was pregnant by him but they didn't know. A boy from the village was ready to marry her - she didn't say whether he knew or not - so the child was baptised under his mother's married name. Who cares about a few months more or less? When he came back from the US he was told she was married, and that the families were not speaking so he didn't bother to try and contact. I'm not sure whether she was even then telling us the whole and nothing but the truth. If the families were at war, what could have been the reason, other than the child?? For what it's worth, but I had a little shiver thinking that it was a good job that DNA and blood tests did not exist until very recently!! Geoff

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Hello all I would like to know a little more about some of the Dorset customs. For example several of my ancestors were baptised on Christmas day. What festivities went on in the house during that time? Hardy mentioned mummers plays and carol singing. Another ancestor died the day they would be wassailing the apple trees. I would like to know a bit about that too. Anyone know about these things? Or perhaps other festivies and customs? regards Caroline Ingram Western Australia --

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Just thought I would let you know that my daughter received very high marks and one of her school's awards for her excellent work regarding the smallpox vaccination. Her tutor remarked on the amount of information provided and was very impressed, particularly concerning Dorset's own Benjamin Jesty. I daren't check the garage Davy - who knows what I might find out there amongst the spiders...... > Hear! Hear! > > Education Officers (everywhere) heed the call! > > Davy Cannon > Dorchester, Dorset > > PS Still looking for the Ooser myself. Have you checked the garage?....:-)) --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.672 / Virus Database: 434 - Release Date: 28/04/2004

I think this is best dealt with by ignoring it...... This individual has been unsubbed, and blocked from resubbing. Any further discussion on the list would be inappropriate, and would achieve nothing. Comments can be directed to the individual privately, of course. By the way, it is she, not he.... Davy Cannon List Admin, Dorset-Life ----- Original Message ----- From: <ARich25277@aol.com> To: <ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 11:30 PM Subject: Re: [DOR-LIFE] Learning the craft of genealogy online > Dear List: > > Personally I have been bombarded by this individual on the four lists to > which I subscribe...without exaggeration 20 emails. I consider this a type of > spam and I wish he could be stopped from filling my email. > > Annette Richards > > > ==== ENG-DORSET-LIFE Mailing List ==== > The Dorset Genweb pages can be found at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~engdor/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

Dear List, If anyone wants to respond to this person please do so privately, not on the list. Thanks. Davy Cannon List Admin, Dorset-Life ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kylie Veale" <research@veale.com.au> To: <ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 1:36 AM Subject: [DOR-LIFE] Learning the craft of genealogy online > Fellow genealogists, > > Have you ever used the Internet to learn about genealogy methods and resources? Taken a genealogy course online? Read some 'how to' articles? Then I would like to hear from you.

Dear List: Personally I have been bombarded by this individual on the four lists to which I subscribe...without exaggeration 20 emails. I consider this a type of spam and I wish he could be stopped from filling my email. Annette Richards

Fellow genealogists, Have you ever used the Internet to learn about genealogy methods and resources? Taken a genealogy course online? Read some 'how to' articles? Then I would like to hear from you. I am an Australian Ph.D. student who is currently writing a book chapter for an academic Virtual Learning Environment publication - my chapter is about using the Internet for genealogical education. I would therefore love to hear from you, fellow genealogists, about any Internet-based content you've used for genealogy education. This includes online courses (free or fee), how-to's, articles/columns, newsgroups, BBS, chat, mailing lists, forums, or even personal web pages that publish learning material - anything online that helps you in learning the craft of genealogy. Your comments on the following is of utmost interest: What are your favourite learning outlets on the Internet? How often do you use them? Can or did you find what you needed online? What are your learning successes? What could be better? What do you look for in genealogical learning on the Internet? If you would like to participate, your comments are extremely welcome. Please send your comments to me directly at research@veale.com.au before Saturday 1st May 2004. I thank you in advance for your participation in this academic research. Kylie Veale P.S. Names and email addresses will be protected and are therefore not included in the publication. Copies of the paper will be made available to interested participants on request, after the book has been published. ----------------------------------------------- Kylie J. Veale | Brisbane, Australia GradDipInvEnv, MInetStds(Design) Provisional PhD candidate http://www.veale.com.au/kylie icq: 27938257 msn: kyliej@hotmail.com yahoo: kylie_veale

I am researching the BILES family of Powerstock Thomas b 1837 Jane b 1833 wife George b 1868 Frances b 1865 d 1923 ada, Joesph , Kitty and Thomas also names Any help will be appreciated Thank You Paul; Willson

Hello to all you knowledgeable Dorsetans. Two parts of what I believe to have been a three part publication of, "The Parish of Sixpenny Handley" by Mrs. E. HAYWARD, have come into my possession. I have parts two and three. Or that is what they appear to be. A hand written note on one page says; "Handley Parish Magazine 19-----". The first part I have reads -- continued from the November Edition. Any help/advice will be appreciated. John In beautiful Canberra. Capitol of OZ

Hear! Hear! again Add Alfred Russell WALLACE to the list. Much ignored when DARWIN gets all the praise. Steve in Zelston > -----Original Message----- > From: Davy Cannon [mailto:davy.cannon1@btinternet.com] > Sent: 13 April 2004 01:44 > To: ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [DOR-LIFE] Re: Benjamin Jesty - smallpox > > > Hear! Hear! > > Dorset has at least as much history as any other county, > but ask the man or > woman in the street to name three famous Dorset people, and > you'll probably > get Thomas Hardy, Admiral Hardy, and er....., though not > necessarily in that > order! >

Hear! Hear! Dorset has at least as much history as any other county, but ask the man or woman in the street to name three famous Dorset people, and you'll probably get Thomas Hardy, Admiral Hardy, and er....., though not necessarily in that order! It is interesting to note that Jenner (a doctor) was acclaimed by his fellow doctors for his "invention", and never acknowledged his having been preceded by Jesty. Jenner, on the other hand, a simple farmer, recognised that he was probably not the first to have made the quantum leap in logic which resulted in the realisation that if (as was commonly known) people who accidentally got cowpox were immune from smallpox, then those who deliberately got cowpox were probably equally immune! Education Officers (everywhere) heed the call! Davy Cannon Dorchester, Dorset PS Still looking for the Ooser myself. Have you checked the garage?....:-)) > I've been busy trying to find the Dorset Ooser so haven't posted lately ;-) > > I was amazed a few weeks ago when my daughter came home from school asking me about Edward Jenner and smallpox. I read through the stuff she had been given at school and what her homework was......then I sent back a short lesson in local history to her tutor about Benjamin Jesty as my daughter included it as part of her homework! > > Even in Dorset schools they do not learn about the important role that Jesty played. It's about time they did. Any County Education Officers amongst us? ;-) > > Debby > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.656 / Virus Database: 421 - Release Date: 10/04/2004 > > > ==== ENG-DORSET-LIFE Mailing List ==== > The Dorset Museum homepage can be found at: > http://home.clara.net/dorset.museum > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

Hiya list :-) I've been busy trying to find the Dorset Ooser so haven't posted lately ;-) I was amazed a few weeks ago when my daughter came home from school asking me about Edward Jenner and smallpox. I read through the stuff she had been given at school and what her homework was......then I sent back a short lesson in local history to her tutor about Benjamin Jesty as my daughter included it as part of her homework! Even in Dorset schools they do not learn about the important role that Jesty played. It's about time they did. Any County Education Officers amongst us? ;-) Debby --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.656 / Virus Database: 421 - Release Date: 10/04/2004

I meant to respond earlier on the subject of Sea Fencibles (raised by Ray I think) but the mind slipped into neutral and so I settled down with a glass of warm milk and a rusk and have only just reactivated the remaining few grey cells. As this posting doesn't contain much of genealogical use (no ages, dates, relationships, etc.), I thought it more of 'Dorset Life' interest. There is an excellent and comprehensive explanation of Sea Fencibles at http://www.fishponds.freeuk.com/seafenc.htm entitled The Severn District Sea Fencibles 1803 to 1810 By John Penny of the Fishponds Local History Society, Bristol. The following extract from this site explains the not very subtle pressure applied to boatmen to volunteer! "All those who shall voluntarily enrol themselves as Sea Fencibles, for the defence of the coast, will not be required to leave their own coast; unless the enemy shall have made, or be expected to make, a landing on any other part, in which case they will be required to go to that part. They are to be mustered and exercised with the Pike or Great Gun one day in a week, whichever day will least interfere with their different occupations, when they will be allowed one shilling per man each day. Or, in places where their vessels or boats are lying idle during the neap tides, they will be attended to at such times. While they shall remain on the roll, and shall perform properly the services and exercise required of them they shall be PROTECTED FROM THE IMPRESS." "They will be allowed to leave the District for which they are enrolled, when employed in Fishing, or carrying their different commodities to market, and will have a certificate from their Captain at the time of enrollment, which will protect them at all times while following their usual occupation. And, if they should be called out on actual service, they will be allowed one shilling per day, and provisions: or another shilling in lieu of provision. A man chosen from among themselves, and recommend to their Captain as a proper person to command them as a Petty Officer, will be attended to, as one for every 25 men will be appointed. And as the situation of the country requires the services of every person on the sea coast, no seafaring man, fisherman, or other person, whose occupation or calling may be, or has been, to work in vessels or boats upon rivers, or otherwise, WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM THE IMPRESS, unless enrolled to serve as a Sea Fencible." At the PRO at Kew I had a look at ADM28/65 (Navy Board: Sea Fencibles Pay Lists) which contains the muster rolls for the Weymouth crew between 8 February 1800 and 7 March 1800. One suspects that this is a virtual census of Weymouth boatmen which unfortunately gives only the names and (where able) the signatures of the men attending each parade and their pay. There are records for fencible groups from North Shields right around our coast to Malin Head and those relating to Dorset are:- <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493521">ADM 28/61</A> Calshot to St. Alban's Head. 1803-1805 <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493522">ADM 28/62</A> Calshot to St. Alban's Head. 1805-1810 <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493523">ADM 28/63</A> Dorset. 1798-1801 <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493524">ADM 28/64</A> Dorset. 1798-1807 <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493525">ADM 28/65</A> Dorset. 1798-1801 <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493526">ADM 28/66</A> Dorset. 1803-1810 <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493527">ADM 28/67</A> Bridport. 1798-1801 <A HREF="http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/DisplayCatalogueSummary.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=493528">ADM 28/68</A> Puncknoll to Teignmouth. 1803-1805 There are some 20 men for example in the group at Swyre and about 22 at Abbotsbury. Weymouth mustered just under a hundred and the names I was able to read are Samuel Scriven, William Samways, Samuel Jerrard, William Dearling, Henry Buck, Peter Weston, John Jerrard, Robert White, John Tibbs, John Tizzard, Richard Tizzard, Richard Jerrard, Leonardn Carter ? (Cartless ?), Martin Loader, Henry Hard, Thomas Talbot, Stephen (Septimus) Nobbs, Samuel Talbot, William Samways, John Sims, Robert Mitchell, Jeremy Cromey, John Cromey, John Huggins, David Laurance, James Talbot, John Bartlett, Joseph Beale, James (Joseph) Cole, James (Joseph) Topham, William Loader, George Manning, William Phillips, George Clayton, Peter Bussel, William Court, Robert Bucks, Sam Marsh, George Beale, George Darby, Joseph Harris, John Vaux, Henry Weston, John Thompson, John Waters, John Carol ( Curroll), John Vile ? (Vice ?), Jonathan Bo;t, Robert Cooper, Nathaniel Gray, George Gray, Francis Green, Charles Buch, James Tizzard, Joseph Hunter, Thomas Hickman, John Hunter, William Buck, Frederick Oak, William Bolt, James Curtis, Peter Green, William Fuzzard, Benjamin Williams, Phillip Prout, Charles Turner, John Lovell, John Hare (Eyre), John Wood, Gray Ford, Jacob Fowler, Sam Summers, Joseph Decker, James Carter, John Gooden, Thomas Hitchcoke, William Bincen, Sam Beech, Thomas Morgan, Joseph Beasant, Frederick White, Henry Carter, John Hodge, William Harvey, Peter Kellaway, Richard Williams, Henry Notter, Charles Riddle, William Sims, John Meckelvey (McKelvey), Peter Pashen, and David Jones. The spelling in some signatures differed from the register entry e.g., Meckelvey (McKelvey). Sounds like a call of my school register in Weymouth in the 1940s! John Rogan in Wiltshire, England.

Hi Can anyone tell me about funeral and burial customs in the 1700s and 1800s in Dorset? I know my mother was not allowed to go to her fathers funeral as my grandmother considered that women shouldn't attend funerals. I dont know why. Can anyone also tell me about paid mourners? regards Caroline Western Australia