<SNIP> > From: Helen Jones <hsj@melcombe.freeserve.co.uk> > Subject: [DOR-LIFE] "Who's Afeard" - Meaning? > This is a query which came up at work this week. > Where does the Dorset motto "Who's Afeard" come from - what is its > history, meaning and significance. > We have asked the Record Office, The Society of Dorset Men and Dorchester > Reference library - no-one knows but there was a suggestion that it could > be something to do with William Barnes. Thanks > Helen Hi Helen Had it in the back of my mind that "Who's Afear'd" had a Thomas Hardy connection - Did a little digging and although it doesn't say just how or why he (Thomas Hardy) suggested it, I found this http://www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/d/dorset.htm (British Civic Heraldry - Dorset County Council) The last paragraph reads- "The motto of 'Who's afear'd' was one of four originally suggested, including Lord Shaftesbury's suggestion; 'Excellence where Beauty Reigns'. 'Who's afear'd' was adopted by the Society of Dorset Men in 1905 at the suggestion of Thomas Hardy. It was converted to Dorset dialect by them in 1908, and was suggested to the County Council by a Colonel C.D.Drew, then curator of the Dorset County Museum." Still not the whole story! Heather I transcribe for FreeCen. Interested? Check Out the Website - http://freecen.rootsweb.com __________________________________________________________________________ Join Freeserve http://www.freeserve.com/time/ Winner of the 2003 Internet Service Providers' Association awards for Best Unmetered ISP and Best Consumer Application.